The 2003 Euro Beach Soccer League, was the sixth edition of the Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL), the premier beach soccer competition contested between European men's national teams, known as the European Pro Beach Soccer League at the time, occurring annually since its establishment in 1998. The league was organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) between July 6 and August 31, 2003 in nine different nations across Europe.
This was the last time the tournament would be held under the Pro title, as the following season the tournament was renamed and shortened to the Euro Beach Soccer League.
Following the preceding season, BSWW continued organising the nations of the EBSL across two distinct groups based on ability. This season the two groups were renamed as Division A, the top tier group, comprising the best nations of the Europe and Division B, the lower tier group, consisting of teams with lesser ability than those in A; these replaced the Southern and Northern "divisions" established in 2002. Each team competed in their respective division to try and earn a place in the season-finale event, the Superfinal, in which the league title was then contested directly.
Spain, having won three successive titles from 1999 to 2001, successfully reclaimed the title by defeating France in extra-time in the final. This was the fourth European title won by the Spanish. Portugal, who entered as defending champions, lost in the Superfinal semi-finals, ultimately finishing in third place.
The league also doubled as the qualification process for the 2004 Beach Soccer World Championship. The nations finishing in first, second, third and fourth place qualified.
Video 2003 Euro Beach Soccer League
Teams
This season 9 nations took part in the Euro Beach Soccer League whom were and were distributed as follows:
Superfinal berths
There were six berths available in this season's Superfinal. The table summarises in what positions nations needed to finish in their respective divisions in order to qualify to the Superfinal, what round of the Superfinal they would enter finishing in said positions, and the seeding they would receive.
Allocations
The amount of qualification spots available in the Superfinal from each division reflected the abilities of the nations in the respective tiers.
- Division A, consisting of the best teams of the EBSL, was awarded four Superfinal berths
- Division B, as the bottom tier, received two berths
Maps 2003 Euro Beach Soccer League
Division A
Division A consisted of five rounds of fixtures known as stages, with one stage hosted in each of the five countries participating as shown. Four teams took part in each, with each team taking part in a total of four of the five stages. In each stage, the teams played each other once. The nation who earned the most points at the end of the stage was crowned stage winners.
At the end of the five stages all results were tallied up in a final league table.
Stage 1
The first stage took place in Estoril, Portugal. The hosts claimed the opening stage of Division A.
Stage 2
The second stage took place in Brighton, England. Portugal won their second stage of the season.
Stage 3
The third stage took place in Marseille, France. Spain won the stage.
Stage 4
The fourth stage took place in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy. A second stage victory was claimed by Spain.
Stage 5
The fifth and final stage took place in Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain. The hosts won their third consecutive stage title of the season.
Final Division A table
The top four Division A teams qualified to the Superfinal, fifth place exited this year's competition. Finishing first and second in the division table earned those teams byes straight into the semi-finals of the Superfinal, whilst finishing in third and fourth qualified those nations to the quarter-finals.
Spain were crowned winners of the division and earned the bye into the Superfinal semi-finals along with runners-up Portugal.
Division B
The second tier consisted of four rounds of fixtures known as stages, with one stage hosted in each of the four countries participating as shown. All four teams took part in each stage. In every round of fixtures the teams played each other once. The nation who earned the most points at the end of the stage was crowned stage winners.
Germany were originally due to participate and host a stage but ultimately withdrew before the competition began.
At the end of the four stages all results were tallied up in a final league table.
Stage 1
The first stage took place in Stavanger, Norway. The hosts were winners of the event.
Stage 2
The second stage took place in Linz, Austria. Hosts Austria won the event based on their head-to-head record with Switzerland.
Stage 3
The third stage took place in Bern, Switzerland. Norway were crowned stage champions based on their head-to-head record with Belgium.
Stage 4
The fourth and next to last stage took place in Knokke, Belgium. Switzerland claimed the final stage of Division B.
Final Division B table
The top two Division B teams qualified to the Superfinal, entering at the quarter-final stage. The remaining Division B nations exited this season's EBSL.
Switzerland were crowned winners, with runners-up Norway also successfully qualifying for the season-ending event.
Superfinal
Qualified teams
This is a summary of the teams who qualified for the Superfinal.
Results
- Dates: 28-30 August 2003
- Location: Knokke, Belgium
This season the Superfinal was played as a straight knockout tournament. Four of the six teams contesting the title started in the quarter-finals, whilst the top two nations from Division A received a bye and started in the semi-finals. The teams played one match per round until the final when the winner of the 2003 Euro Beach Soccer League was crowned. The losers of the quarter and semi-finals played in consolation matches to determine their final league placements.
Unlike in previous years, Monte Carlo, Monaco was unable to host the event. After also failing to organise the Superfinal in Cannes, France, Knokke, Belgium was finally confirmed as the season-finale hosts, following on from being the venue of the final stage of Division B.
Championship match details
Winners
Superfinal final standings
Spain beat France in the final to win their fourth Euro Beach Soccer League title and successfully reclaim their crown after losing it to Portugal last year.
Finishing in the top four positions also earned those nations qualification straight into the upcoming World Cup.
Sources
- Roonba
- BSWW archive
- RSSSF
Source of article : Wikipedia
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