Russia coach under no illusions
Likhachev insists Dubai event will be no day at the beach
Dubai: Defending champions Russia will be wary of everyone as they start the defence of their title at the 2012 Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup that kicks off at the Dubai Festival City from October 30.
“We have not been together for a long time as a team,” Russian coach Mikhail Likhachev told Gulf News during his team’s preparations for the competition at the Al Mamzar Beach.
“We needed some strong matches to see where we lie and I am thankful to the UAE for responding to our call and playing us in this two-match series.”
Under their crafty skipper Ilya Leonov, Russia have been a force to reckon with in the past couple of years. After two quarter-final appearances in 2008 and 2009, they were crowned world champions when the competition was held in Ravenna, Italy in 2011.
Russia also won the Euro Beach Soccer League championship in 2010 and 2012 while also winning the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup held in Dubai last year.
“Our only drawback coming to this event is that we have not been together as a team. We are the defending champions and it is important for us to go out there with a lot of confidence so that we can retain the title here for the second year,” Likhachev said.
“We are a good team and we are all aware of this, but we want to go out there and prove to the people that we are the best side among the eight teams in this event.”
In the Dubai tournament, Russia will be joined by Tahiti, US and the hosts UAE in Group A, while Group B will consist of Japan, Nigeria, Switzerland and Brazil.
The Russian coach is aware there are going to be no easy outings in this competition. “All teams are tough to beat as everyone has been putting in a lot of training. It’s going to be very difficult for us, but the good thing is we have been preparing well in the past few days,” Likhachev said.
“This will be an interesting tournament. All teams look equal and things will not be too easy for the big ones.
“Brazil will be strong and also Tahiti and even the UAE. We will have three tough matches and if we can come through then anything can happen.”
