Italy started well by getting three points against Poland in the first match of the final group at the FIFA World Cup – Europe Qualifier win Moscow. Italy won 3-1 and it could have been more as the woodwork and an in-form Marciniak kept the score down.

Almost everything happened in the first period with three goals. Poland took the lead through Baran before goals in the seventh and tenth minutes from the goalkeeper Del Mestre and forward Palmacci turned the game around. It was a physical match until the end when Corosiniti set up Gori to once again demonstrate his goalscoring touch.

Coach Emiliano Del Duca was cautiously optimistic after. “It was a very tough, physical and competitive game and my guys responded well with their heads and their legs. We’re already focused on the game tomorrow which will be harder still.” On Thursday, Italy will face Belarus in the second match of the group at 15:15 and it’s live on beachsoccer.com/live

It’s set to be a tough match fixture and Belarus beat the well-fancied Portugal in the other group match. A win would see the Azzurri have one foo tin the World Cup. Out of the past eleven matches, Italy have won nine although in the 2018 Euroleaguue in Minsk, Belarus won 6-5 in extra-time.

Italy’s final match of the group will be at 17:45 CEST on Friday against Portugal. The top two sides will head to the World Cup at the end of November in Paraguay. On 27 July, the sides that finished third in the two groups will play for a final World Cup berth. The top two sides will play on Monday in the semi-finals and final to determined European ranking points.

 

POLAND 1-3 ITALY 1 (1-2; 0-0; 0-1)
Poland: Marciniak, Gac, Jesionowski, Baran, Klepczarek, Daniluk, Kubiak, Madani, Friszkemut, Pozniak, Szloser. Coach: Marcin Stanislawski
Italy: Del Mestre, Carpita, Corosiniti (Cap.), Frainetti, Chiavaro, Ramacciotti, Marinai, Josep Jr., Palmacci, Sciacca, Gori, Zurlo. Coach: Emiliano Del Duca
Referees: Gonzalez (Spa), Benchabane (Fra) and Mammadov (Azer)

Goals: 3’ first period Baran (P), 7’ first period Del Mestre (I), 10’ first period Palmacci (I); 11’ third period Gori (I)
Bookings: Baran, Friszkemut and Pozniak (P), Palmacci (I)

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2019 – Europe Qualifier

RESULTS

Friday 19 July
Poland 3-2 Czech Republic
Kazakhstan 2-5 Italy

Saturday 20 July
Polond 3-2 Kazakhstan
Italy 10-1 Czech Republic

Monday 22 July
12:30 Czech Republic 2-3 Kazakhstan
17.45 Italy 4-1 Poland

Group C: Italy 9 points; Poland 6 points; Kazakhstan 3; Czech Republic 0

Tuesday 23 July
Round of 16

Italy 12-4 Kazakhstan

Wednesday 24 July
Group 1
Poland 1-3 Italy
Belarus 3-2 Portugal

Group 1 table: Italy and Belarus 3 points; Portugal and Poland 0

FIXTURES

Thursday 25 July
Matchday Two
Italy vs. Belarus (15:15)
Portugal vs. Poland (16:30)

Thursday 26 July
Matchday Three
Portugal vs. Italy (17:45)
Poland vs. Belarus ( 15:15)

Saturday 27 July
Play Off and Final