The 2019 Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL) was the 22nd edition of the Euro Beach Soccer League, the annual, premier competition in European beach soccer contested between men's national teams. It was organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), in a league and play-off format.
This season, the competing teams continued to take part in two divisions: the top tier (Division A) and the bottom tier (Division B). 12 teams continued to contest Division A; all twelve teams returned from last season's top tier as none were relegated. Division B accommodated a record 16 nations: 14 nations who did not gain promotion from last season, Finland who made their debut, and the Netherlands who returned after an absence from competing in recent years.
Due to the saturated 2019 international beach soccer calendar for European teams, this season was shortened considerably compared to the usual program. A total of just two stages of fixtures were scheduled during the regular season. Each team from Division A played in just one stage (compared to the usual two) whilst each team in Division B also played in one. At each stage the participating nations earned points for the overall league tables.
At the end of the regular season, according to the league tables, the eight best teams in Division A advanced to the post-season event, the Superfinal, to compete to become the winners of this year's EBSL. Meanwhile, the top seven teams in Division B (the four group winners and three best runners-up) and the team ranked bottom of Division A played in a different post-season event, the Promotion Final, to try to earn a spot in Division A next year.
Azerbaijan, the defending Division A team in the Promotion Final, beat Kazakhstan in the final to win the event, therefore retaining their Division A status for next season; for the second year running, no Division B nation earned promotion. Italy were the defending champions but were knocked out of title-winning contention in the group stage of the Superfinal, ultimately finishing fourth in the post-season event. The concluding match of the Superfinal was contested between Russia and Portugal, who were both looking to claim a record sixth European title. Portugal, on home sand, came from 2–0 down to win the match and claim their sixth EBSL crown.
Calendar and locations The calendar below was revealed on 18 March 2019.
Similarly to the 2008 and 2015 editions, this season's regular season schedule was truncated, down to just two stages, in order to accommodate the additional events taking up space in the international calendar, including Division A teams competing in just one stage each, compared to the usual two stages. Phase Dates Country City StageDivisionsRegularseason 5–7 July Nazaré Stage 1 A B 16–18 August Catania Stage 2 A BPostseason/Finals 5–8 September Figueira da Foz Superfinal A Promotion Final B
Teams
The following 28 teams entered this season, divided into divisions A and B as shown (12 in Division A, 16 in Division B).
The numbers in parentheses show the European ranking of each team prior to the start of the season, out of 36 nations.
Division A
(1st) (2nd) (3rd) (4th) (5th) (6th)
(7th) (8th) (9th) (10th) (12th) (15th)
Division B
(11th) (13th) (14th) (16th) (17th) (18th) (19th) (20th)
(21st) (22nd) (23rd) (24th) (25th) (26th) (28th) 1 (n/a)
Notes: 1. Teams making their debut
Stage 1 (Nazaré, 5–7 July)
Matches are listed as local time in Nazaré, WEST (UTC+1)
All matches took place at the Estádio do Viveiro on Praia de Nazaré (Nazaré Beach), in tandem with the hosting of the 2019 Women's Euro Beach Soccer Cup. The area has a capacity of 2,200.
During this round, Georgia won their first ever matches in the EBSL, ultimately leading to a first stage title (in either division), meanwhile Spain reached a milestone of winning their 25th stage title. Goalkeeper Valentin Jaeggy made his 300th appearance for Switzerland on day 3, marked with a commemorative jersey presented on-field by fellow players.
Division A
Group 1 Key:Group winners /(H)Hosts Team1 (H) 32100149+5823200198+163 301021921–22430003711–40
Group 2 Key:Group winners Team133000143+11923101197+243 310021013–33430003515–100
Division B Key:Group winners Team1320011210+262 32001128+46331002812–43431002810–23 Georgia & Bulgaria; Norway & Denmark are ranked based on their head-to-head results.
Awards The following were presented after the conclusion of the final day's matches. Individual awards apply to Division A only. Stage Winners trophyTop scorer(s)Best playerBest goalkeeper(Division A)(Division B) Dejan Stankovic 8 goals Jordan Santos Dona
Stage 2 (Catania, 16–18 August) Matches are listed as local time in Catania, CEST (UTC+2)
All matches took place at the Arena Beach Stadium on the "Spiaggia libera numero 1" (Free beach number 1) section of Playa di Catania (Catania Beach), with a capacity of approximately 2,000.
Finland made their EBSL debut during this stage.
Division A Key:Group winners /(H)Hosts Team1 (H)32010139+472 3200195+463 300121315–214300031117–60
Division B
Group 1 Key:Group winners /Withdrew Team1 33000115+69232001127+563310021012–2343000309–90
Serbia withdrew on 16 August due to administrative issues; their opponents received 3–0 walkover wins.
Group 2 Key:Group winners Team1 32010118+372320011410+46331002812–434300031316–30
Group 3 Key:Group winners Team132100148+682 320011714+363310021312+13430003616–100
Awards The following were presented after the conclusion of the final day's matches. Individual awards apply to Division A only. Stage Winners trophyTop scorer(s)Best playerBest goalkeeper(Division A)(Division B) Sven Körner 6 goals Paolo Palmacci Valery Makarevich
League tables At end of regular season
Ranking & tie-breaking criteria: Division A – 1. Points earned 2. Highest group placement 3. Goal difference 4. Goals scored / Division B – 1. Highest group placement 2. Points earned 3. Goal difference 4. Goals scored 5. Least yellow cards
Division A TeamQualification133000143+119Advance toSuperfinal232100149+583 32010139+474 3200195+4653200198+1663101197+247310021013–338 301021921–229 300121315–211030003711–4011300031117–601230003515–100Promotion Final
Division B TeamQualification1 (Q) 33000115+69PromotionFinal2 (Q) 32100148+68 3 (Q) 32010118+374 (Q) 320011210+265 (q) 32001127+566 (q) 320011410+46 7 (q) 32001128+468 320011714+369 310021312+1310 310021012–2311[a] 31002812–4312[a] 31002812–4313 31002810–2314 300031316–3015 3000309–9016 30003616–100Key: Team group placement: 1st place / 2nd place / 3rd place / 4th place(Q) – Qualified to Promotion Final as a group winner(q) – Qualified to Promotion Final as a best group runner-up a. Norway received fewer yellow cards (0) than England (2).
Promotion Final (Figueira da Foz, 5–8 September) Matches are listed as local time in Figueira da Foz, WEST (UTC+1).
All matches took place at a purpose-built stadium constructed between 12 August and 3 September at the Beach Sports Complex on Praia de Buarcos (Buarcos Beach), with a capacity of 2,500.
The top seven teams from Division B and the team bottom of Division A, as per the end of regular season league tables, played in the Promotion Final; the winner earned a place in Division A in the 2020 season.
Qualified teams The teams in bold qualified as Division B regular season group winners; those in italics qualified as the three best group runners-up.
The team in attempted to retain their position in Division A, having finished bottom of the regular season table.
1
2 3 (Last place, Division A)
Notes: 1. First appearance in Promotion Final 2. Bulgaria withdrew due to administrative issues on 2 September; they were replaced by the next best team in the Division B table, Estonia. 3. First appearance as defending Division A team in Promotion Final
Group stage Key: Advance to –Final /3rd place match /5th place match /7th place match
Group 1 Team132001116+5623200197+263310021015–534301021214–22
Group 2 Team1320011813+56232001149+56332001121206430003818–100
Kazakhstan, Greece & Hungary are ranked based on their head-to-head results. (GD: Kaz +3; Gre +1; Hun –4)
Play-off stage Seventh place play-off
Fifth place play-off
Third place play-off
Promotion play-off final
Final standings Azerbaijan won the event to successfully retain their Division A status for the 2020 EBSL season; this was the first time since the Promotion Final was introduced in 2009 that the defending Division A team successfully won the event in consecutive seasons (following Germany's successful defence of their top tier membership in 2018).
Consequently, no Division B team earned promotion to the top division and no Division A team was relegated this year.
TeamOutcome1 Retained spot in 2020 EBSL Division A2 Remain in Division B345678
Superfinal (Figueira da Foz, 5–8 September)
Matches are listed as local time in Figueira da Foz, WEST (UTC+1).
All matches took place at a purpose-built stadium constructed between 12 August and 3 September at the Beach Sports Complex on Praia de Buarcos (Buarcos Beach), with a capacity of 2,500.
The winners of the Superfinal are crowned 2019 EBSL champions. No teams made their debut in the Superfinal, however Turkey made their first appearance in 17 years.
Qualified teams The top eight teams from Division A, as per the end of regular season league table, qualified for the Superfinal.
(hosts)
Group stage Key: Advance to –Final /3rd place match /5th place match /7th place match /(H) Hosts
Group 1 Team1320011611+562320011817+163310111212044300031420–60
Group 2 Team1 (H)330002012+892320011814+463300121322–914300031114–30
Play-off stage Seventh place play-off
Fifth place play-off
Third place play-off
Superfinal match
Awards Winners trophy
Individual awards Awarded for feats achieved in the Superfinal only Top scorer(s) Emmanuele Zurlo Cem Keskin8 goalsBest player Jordan Santos Best goalkeeper Maxim Chuzhkov
Final standings Finalists Russia and Portugal faced each other for a record fourth time in an EBSL title-decider (no fixture has been played more in the Sueprfinal match), with Russia having won all three previous meetings (2009, 2013, 2017); both teams were aiming to win a record sixth EBSL title, surpassing the current five title record shared with Spain who first reached the milestone in 2006.
TeamResult1 EBSL Champions (6th title)2 Runners-up3 Third place4 5 6 7 8
Season statistics (Division A)
Top scorers The following tables list the top 12 scorers in Division A, including goals scored in both the regular and post season events. RankPlayerPldGoals1 Cem Keskin 7 132 Jordan Santos 7 10 Antonio Mayor 7 Salavador "Chiky" Ardil 75 Emmanuele Zurlo 6 9 6 Dejan Stankovic 4 8 Glenn Hodel 68 Boris Nikonorov 6 7 Baris Terzioglu 7 Paolo Palmacci 7 João Gonçalves 712 Sven Körner 3 6 Eduard Suarez 7 Yurii Shcherytsia 7 Source
Most assists The following tables list the top 10 assistants in Division A including assists provided in both the regular and post season events. RankPlayerPldAssists1 Noël Ott 7 7 Bê Martins 7 Valentin Jäggy 74 Belchior 7 6 Jose Cintas 7 Paolo Palmacci 77 Tobias Steinemann 6 5 Dmytro Medved 7 Recep Demir 7 Leo Martins 7 Andrea Carpita 7 Simone Del Mestre 7 Source