The 2016 Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL) was the 19th edition of the annual, premier European competition in beach soccer contested between men's national teams, in a league and play-off format, taking place between 1 July and 28 August 2016.
This season a record 26 teams took part in two divisions. Twelve teams continued to contest Division A as in recent seasons, consisting of the top eleven finishers from the previous year plus Romania who were promoted. Whilst Division B was expanded to accommodate fourteen nations; those who did not gain promotion from the previous season, returning and debuting nations, plus Hungary who were relegated from the top tier.
This season there were three stages of fixtures. Each team from Division A played in two stages whilst each team from Division B played in one, earning points for the overall league tables.
At the end of the stages, according to the league tables, the eight best teams in Division A advanced to the Superfinal to compete to become the winners of this year's EBSL. Meanwhile, the top seven teams in Division B and the team ranked bottom of Division A played in the Promotion final to try to earn a spot in Division A next year.
Azerbaijan were promoted to Division A for the first time after beating Hungary in the Promotion Final who were looking to be promoted straight back up in their first season after relegation. Romania finished last in Division A and failed to defend their place in the Promotion Final and were therefore subsequently relegated straight back down to Division B having been promoted in 2015.
Ukraine won the league after a strong performance in the Superfinal, despite only finishing sixth after the preliminary three stages were complete, claiming their first EBSL title, defeating defending champions Portugal in the final in a repeat of the previous season's title deciding match.
Calendar and Locations Dates Country City Stage 1–3 July Moscow Stage 1 8–10 July Sanxenxo Stage 2 12–14 August Siófok Stage 3 25–28 August Catania Superfinal and Promotion Final
Teams
The numbers in brackets show the European ranking of each team prior to the start of the league, out of 33 teams.
Division A
(1st) (2nd) (3rd) (4th) (5th) (6th) (8th) (9th) (11th) (12th) (13th) (15th)
Division B
(7th) (10th) (14th) (16th) (17th) (18th) (19th) (21st) (22nd) (23rd) (24th) (30th) 1 (31st) 1 (n/a)
Notes: 1. Teams making their debut
Stage 1 (Moscow, 1–3 July) Matches are listed as local time in Moscow, (UTC+3)
All matches took place at Yantar Stadium in the district of Strogino.
Division A
Group 1 TeamNotes132010149+57Group Winners2320012514+1163310021314−13430003621−150
Group 2 TeamNotes133000136+79Group Winners232001139+46331002107+33430003620−140
Awards Top scorerBest playerBest goalkeeperRef. Dejan Stankovic 10 goals Kirill Romanov Dona
Division B
TeamNotes1321001411+38Group Winners232001167+963310021217−534300031017−70
Stage 2 (Sanxenxo, 8–10 July) Matches are listed as local time in Sanxenxo, (UTC+2)
All matches took place at a purpose built stadium on Silgar Beach.
Division A
Group 1 TeamNotes133000206+149Group Winners232001138+56331002819−1134300031018−80
Group 2 TeamNotes133000189+99Group Winners232001166+106331002820−123430003815−70
Awards Top scorerBest playerBest goalkeeperRef. Noël Ott 6 goals Miguel Santiso ("Kuman") Elinton Andrade
Division B
Group 1 TeamNotes12200086+26Group Winners221001880332000257−20
Group 2 TeamNotes12101062+44Group Winners22100163+33320002310−70
Stage 3 (Siófok, 12–14 August) Matches are listed as local time in Siófok, (UTC+2)
All matches took place at Mlsz Beach Arena.
Division A
Group 1 TeamNotes133000146+89Group Winners232001117+46331002128+43430003622−160
Group 2 TeamNotes132001138+56Group Winners23101194+54331002712−534300121116−51
Awards Top scorerBest playerBest goalkeeperRef. Ihar Bryshtel 6 goals Gabriele Gori Valery Makarevich
Division B
TeamNotes133000134+99Group Winners2320011611+563310021018–834300031117−60
League Tables
At stage completion
Ranking & tie-breaking criteria: Division A – 1. Points earned 2. Goal difference 3. Goals scored | Division B – 1. Highest group placement 2. Points earned 3. Goal difference 4. Goals scored 5. Results against 4th place team
Division A TeamNotes1 660003312+2118Advance toSuperfinal2 650014323+20153 640112516+9134 640022413+11125 640022617+9126 630122212+10107 630032814+1498620041532−1769610142430−6410 610051440−26311600061435−21012600061640−240Promotion Final
Division B TeamNotes1 (Q) 22000102+86Promotion Final2 (Q) 2200086+263 (Q) 21100108+254 (Q) 2101062+445 (q) 2100195+436 (q) 2100163+337 (q) 2100176+138 2100188039 2000257−2010 20002612−6011 20002310−7012 20002514−9013 300031117−6014 300031017−70 Note: Since one group in Division B consisted of just three teams, for the teams who finished in 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a group of four, their results against the 4th placed team in their groups have been discounted. Team group placement: 1st place / 2nd place / 3rd place / 4th place
(Q) – Qualified to Promotion Final as group winner(q) – Qualified Promotion Final as best non-winners
Promotion Final (Catania, 25–28 August)
Qualified teams Teams in bold qualified as group winners. The team in italics attempted to retain their position in Division A, having finished bottom of the table.
(Last place, Division A)
Group stage Matches are listed as local time in Catania, (UTC+2)
All matches took place at the DomusBet Arena Beach Stadium with a capacity of 2 000.
Group 1 TeamNotes1330001911+89Advance to final231011101004Classification matches3310021615+13430003918–90
Group 2 TeamNotes133000124+89Advance to final231002107+33Classification matches3310021012–23431002615–93
Play-offs
Seventh place play-off
Fifth place play-off
Third place play-off
Promotion play-off final
Final standings TeamQualification1Promoted to 2017 EBSL Division A2Remain in Division B3456Relegated to 2017 EBSL Division B7Remain in Division B8 Italics: team from Division A
Superfinal (Catania, 25–28 August)
Qualified Teams
Group stage Matches are listed as local time in Catania, (UTC+2)
All matches took place at the DomusBet Arena Beach Stadium with a capacity of 2 000.
Group 1 TeamNotes1330001610+69Advance to final2311011411+35Classification matches3310021310+33430003517–120
Group 2 TeamNotes1320011312+16Advance to final231101118+35Classification matches3310021415–134300121316–31
Play-offs
Seventh place play-off
Fifth place play-off
Third place play-off
Superfinal match
Awards Top scorer Paolo Palmacci (8 goals)Best player Bê MartinsBest goalkeeper Vitaliy Sydorenko
Final standings TeamNotes1 champions2 runners-up3Third place45678
References
External links Beach Soccer Worldwide EBSL, 2016 Stage 1, Day 1 report Stage 1, Day 2 report