Dubai: Defending champions Iran and hosts the UAE are among the sides in action as the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup kicks off at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) on Tuesday.
Iran upset two-time defending champions Russia before a packed stadium last year and their captain Ali Naderi believes that win will give his team the confidence to beat the best sides in the world this year.
“Winning the Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup meant a lot to us because it gave us the opportunity to show the world how much our beach soccer is growing, and we were really proud to put Asian beach soccer in such a high position,” Naderi said.
The hosts also did well in 2013, as they beat Switzerland to clinch third place for a second time.
UAE coach Guga, who took over the team in the summer, believes his side can make a strong start.
“It is important that we start on a winning note and brighten our chances for a spot in the semi-finals. After that it will be one match at a time as we have two of the strongest teams in our group [Iran and Portugal],” he said.
“We have a young side and it is important that our players get confidence. I am hopeful that this is a team that is evolving and they can deliver and be a team to look out for in the near future.”
The fourth edition of the tournament kicks off on Tuesday, with USA taking on multiple world champions Brazil in the opening match.
Russia will take on Japan in the second game, while the UAE will be up against Morocco in the third and Iran will take on Portugal in the fourth and final match.
The first three days of the competition will see the group matches, followed by semi-finals on Friday and the play-off for third spot and the final on Saturday.
