Total supremacy from Italbeach, as they won their second game in the group stage 7-2 against Turkey, at the Superfinal currently taking place in Figueira Da Foz in Portugal. At the end of the third period the score was 3-0 and there was a clear divide in class between the Azzurri and their opponents. Francesco Sciacca was absent and is also a doubt for the third game, but this did not stop the side in blue. Italy's first goal was textbook, as the ball flew between Frainetti, Corosiniti and Zurlo without touching the sand, before being volleyed in by Zurlo in Brazilian style. The Calabrian striker was still on fine form after yesterday's hat-trick and scored four more today, his third an explosive bicycle kick. Zurlo is now close to 100 goals for the Azzurri (98), the perfect man to finish all of Palazzolo and Corosiniti’s assists. Ramacciotti and Marinai both scored in the second period, the latter with his 60th goal for the National Team, Josep Jr contributing with key assists and a goal in the third period. The only negative was Angelo Palazzolo’s red card which came just few seconds before the final whistle for an alleged elbow to an opponent. The player from Catania will now miss the third game of the group, the most decisive match of all. Tomorrow, live on beachsoccer.com/live, Italy will face the hosts Portugal at 19:00 CEST, who are level with the Azzurri on six points. The winner will progress to the final against whoever tops the other group.

Looking back on the game, captain Francesco Corosiniti said: "We made it look easy but this was anything but a simple challenge, the result must not deceive. Our concentration made the difference against a national team that made Portugal suffer yesterday. Tomorrow we'll play Portugal without any fear, with respect for our opponents but convinced of our own abilities." The words of Coach Emiliano Del Duca were concise but clear: "We played a smart game against a competitive national team. Tomorrow we'll have the decisive challenge against Portugal, who will have the entire public on their side, but I'm confident, the boys are fine in both their legs and their heads."

Italy vs. Portugal: a match between two national teams who know each other only too well, with eight of twelve from the Portuguese squad having played in the Italian Serie A. Leo and Be Martins, Rui Coimbra, Jordan, Torres, Madjer, Belchior and Andrade have all been teammates of several of the Azzurri. The two national teams have faced each other 34 times in the past, with Italy winning their first encounter in 2004 and the last two games this season: shortly before the final of the Mediterranean Beach Games in Patras and on matchday three of the European Qualifying round of the FIFA World Cup played in Moscow. But all in all Portugal lead with the record at 26-8. Numbers that confirm how unpredictable tomorrow's game will be.

THE MATCH

ITALY VS. TURKEY 7-2 (2-1; 3-0; 2-1)

Italy: Del Mestre, Carpita, Corosiniti (Cap.), Chiavaro, Ramacciotti, Frainetti, Josep Jr, Marinai, Palmacci, Palazzolo, Zurlo. Coach: Emiliano Del Duca

Turkey: Mehmet, Erkan, Volkan, Yasin, Recep, Semih, Baris, Cem Keskin, Efe, Ismail, S. Ahmet. Coach: Ibrahim Ersin

Referees: Vladimir Tashkov (Bul), Torsten Guenther (Ger), Daniel Yuste Querol (Spa), Francisco De Oses (Spa)

Goals: 6’fp Zurlo (I), 12’fp Zurlo (I), 12’fp Cem Keskin (T); 1’sp Ramacciotti (I), 3’sp Marinai (I), 4’sp Zurlo (I); 1’tp Josep Jr (I), 1’tp Cem Keskin (T), 11’tp Zurlo (I)
Cautions: red card for Palazzolo (I). Bookings: Baris, Recep, Yasin (T)

RESULTS

Group 2

Day 1 - Thursday 5 August

Italy 5-4 Ukraine 5-4

Turkey 5-9 Portugal

Day 2 - Friday 6 August

Portugal 3-1 Ukraine

Italy 7-2 Turkey

Rankings: Portugal and Italy 6 points; Ukraine and Turkey 0

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Day 3 - Saturday 7 August

Ukraine vs. Turkey (16.30 CEST)

Portugal vs. Italy (19.00 CEST)

Finals - Sunday 8 August