| Services |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Channels |
| Home & Family |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Leisure |
|
|
|
|
| Technology |
|
|
|
|
|
| Business |
|
|
|
|
| Science |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site Search  |
|
|
|
|
| Free email |
|
|
|
|
 |
Russia to face Mexico in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2007 opening match |
| Theallineed.com |
The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Rio de Janeiro 2007 moved an enthralling step closer to reality today, 26 August, with the official draw at the Palm Beach Hotel in Marseille. Russia will face off against Mexico in the official opening match of the third edition of this FIFA competition on the famous Copacabana beach on 2 November. An impressive array of mouth-watering matches were revealed for the ten-day tournament, not least in the opening match Group A where holders Brazil will play Russia as well as Mexico and the Solomon Islands.
"The draw has revealed the true shape of the competition and the real drama can now begin with the preparations of the 16 teams who will be competing in the final tournament in Rio de Janeiro. This year's qualifiers include four teams who have not featured before such as Mexico, Russia, Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, and they will be hungry for success. What we have seen so far in the qualifiers promises, once again, some superb action on the Copacabana this coming November. I wish all of the players the very best of luck," said FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke, who conducted the draw with the assistance of 1998 FIFA World Cup ™-winner Christian Karembeu and the event's general coordinator, Fulvio Danilas.
"It has been very exciting to see so many impressive performances during the European qualifiers here in Marseilles over the past few days and I wish the French team, in particular, a wonderful tournament in Rio. The venue, Copacabana beach, adds a little extra flavour, and I'm sure that it will be a thrilling competition," said Karembeu.
The 16 teams have been divided into the following four groups;
Group A: Brazil, Solomon Islands, Russia, Mexico
Group B: USA, Spain, Portugal, Iran,
Group C: Japan, Senegal, Uruguay, Italy
Group D: UAE, France, Nigeria, Argentina
Famous faces who attended the draw included France coach Eric Cantona, FIFA Associations Committee member and president of the French Football Federation Jean-Pierre Escalettes, FIFA Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee member Joan Cuscó, Dubai Sports Council vice-president Mattar Al Tayer and DSC general secretary Dr Ahmed Al Sharief.
France and the UAE to host FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2008 and 2009
French city Marseilles will host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008, the first time in the event's history that it will be held outside of its birthplace of Brazil. Twelve months later, the United Arab Emirates will stage the event in Dubai. FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke announced these FIFA decisions at a media conference following today's draw in the presence of high-ranking officials from the French Football Federation and the United Arab Emirates Football Association.
In a short address following the announcement, Jérôme Valcke thanked the six interested candidates for their excellent work and stressed that, "What's happened in the last three years since the integration of beach soccer in the FIFA family has been fantastic. I don't know if any other sport has ever made such rapid progress in such a short space of time - both on the pitch and in running the game. It is now a fascinating combination of organised football and lifestyle. By moving the event first to Marseilles and then to Dubai, we are convinced that we will be taking yet another giant step in the dynamic world of beach soccer."
The president of the French Football Federation, Jean-Pierre Escalettes, said, "We are absolutely convinced that, nearly ten years on from the resounding success of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the French Football Federation, the city of Marseilles, the department of Bouches-du-Rhône and the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur will make sure that this new festival of football is also a success."
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: "Dubai is the perfect choice as the venue for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009, it is through the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that the infrastructure is in place for the city to be able to hold an event of this magnitude. Emirates is very pleased that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will take place on our home soil in 2009 and will provide any support necessary to make this a unique experience for all football fans from all over the world."
The vice-president of the Dubai Sports Council, Mattar Al Tayer, added: "We are privileged to be selected as host city of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009. It's a dream come true for the UAE. It will be a great honour for us to stage an official FIFA competition for the second time, having already hosted what is now the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2003. Dubai is known for hosting international events with distinction and we will ensure that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 will be an unforgettable occasion for all."
|
| About the Author |
©2006 All rights reserved
|
|
|
| Quotes | If I work incessantly to the last, nature owes me another form of existence when the present one collapses. -- Goethe, 1829
If a few idiots want to risk their necks flying across the country thats fine, but nothing will ever replace trains.
|
| Writers | | If you are a writer and want to see your article published at Theallineed.com, just click here to submit. |
|
Schedules for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Basketball Tournaments Announced
Hiring a bodyguard isn't just for the rich and famous