52 - QUARTERLY REVIEW
EUROPE’S NATION A
cross Europe, numerous beach soccer clubs have been doing battle in their own countries over the summer, as old reigns are cut short and new ones begin. The unstoppable SC Braga may have claimed yet another Euro Winners Cup – their third on the bounce! – but Europe’s national leagues have been naming their representation for the coming year… Here is a brief round-up of the national championships, with many familiar faces and some new ones too. Russia The Brazilian-boosted BSC Kristall lifted a fourth trophy in five years in the Russian league, their second title on the bounce. Angelo Schirinzi’s men may have been disappointed in this year’s Euro Winners Cup, but a tight 6-5 victory over Spartak Moscow sees them confirm a place in the next edition.
Their Brazilian duo, Rodrigo and Mauricinho, took the individual awards for top scorer (Rodrigo with 22) and top assister (Mauricinho with 20), while their countryman Lucao (Krylia Sovetov) won the best player of the tournament. Pavel Bazhenov (Spartak Moscow) won Best Goalkeeper, and in the play-off for third place, Krylia Sovetov beat 2017 champions BSC Lokomotiv. In the women’s league, 2018’s European champions WFC Zvezda defeated Lex-Yablochnaya in the final by seven goals to one to claim title number four, equaling Kristall’s record of four leagues in five years. Italy After just a year’s absence from the top of the Italian league, Happy Car Sambenedettese returned as champions with a 5-6 victory over 2016 victors, Viareggio.