Portugal still believe

Ahmed Rizvi

• Last Updated: November 17. 2009 10:14PM UAE / November 17. 2009 6:14PM GMT

DUBAI // Every time Portugal arrive at a Beach Soccer World Cup, they come wearing the tag of favourites. The title, however, has remained elusive in four attempts, with a loss to France in the 2005 final and defeats to nemesis Brazil in two subsequent semis.

They have reached the quarter-finals or better at every tournament, though, and that proud record hangs by a thread in Dubai after yesterday’s 2-1 loss to Uruguay. They need to beat Solomon Islands in their final group game today or risk returning home in embarrassment.

Madjer, the Portuguese captain, remains confident his team can get the result they need against Solomon Islands and then sweep aside every challenge along their way to the title.

“To be the world champions, we should be able to win against all teams,” said the veteran striker who has scored 54 goals in four World Cups and has won three Golden Shoes, given to the tournament’s top scorer, and two Golden Balls, given to the best player. This is the only match we could afford to lose. Now we just have to win every match till the final. We are still a very confident side, so we are still thinking about the world title.”

Portugal had defeated UAE 7-5 in their opening game, while Uruguay had lost 7-6 to Solomon Islands. Buoyed by their win over the Portuguese, the South Americans are confident of silencing the home fans in tonight’s final group game against UAE and book a ticket to the last eight.

“The next match is going to be complicated against the hosts, but those are the most exciting games to play,” said Uruguay goalkeeper Diego. “We are positive that we can win.”

As Portugal succumbed, neighbours and fellow favourites Spain, with their talismanic captain and striker Ramiro Amarelle back from injury, bounced back from the shock defeat against Japan with a clinical 7-3 win over El Salvador.

To reach the last-eight, the European champions now have to outgun Ivory Coast and Amarelle, who arrived in Dubai yesterday morning after missing the first game, is confident of doing that and more.

“We need to beat not just Ivory Coast but every team,” he said. “We are here to win the title and the team need to buckle. We certainly performed better than the last game, but I think we are still far from our best. We need a lot more.”

Japan became the first team to seal a place in the quarter-finals with their second win in as many games, 3-2 against the Ivory Coast. Russia also moved into the second round with a 3-1 win over Italy.

arizvi@thenational.ae