Devastated UAE boss Mohamed Bashir has praised his side for “an unforgettable” Beach Soccer World Cup, despite extra-time heartbreak against holders Portugal denying them a historic berth in the knockouts.
The Whites topped Group C heading into the final round, but faced a winner-takes-all clash against the 2013 winners after Paraguay beat Panama in the early hours of Wednesday morning. They pushed their esteemed opponents all the way in the Bahamas, veteran Ali Karim equalising with an opportunistic close-range header in the final minute to push the nail-biting clash into extra time after Belchior’s sharp finish into the roof of the net just past the halfway point.
The restart would soon spell disaster for the 2017 AFC Beach Soccer Championship runners-up, Bruno Novo volleying into the bottom corner from distance to deny them a debut spot in the last eight at a fifth appearance on the global stage.
“I thanked the players for their efforts and will try to raise their morale after this painful loss,” said Bashir, who replaced mentor Guga – now of Paraguay – this year.
“The players presented an unforgettable World Cup, with a high technical and physical level.
“I am proud of this squad. We must think of the future, at a continental and global level.
“There are so many benefits from the fact we prepared well and were organised, this must go on.”
The UAE beat Paraguay 3-2 in Saturday’s opener. They then earned a penalty-shootout triumph against Panama on Monday to earn four points, prior to the Portugal sucker punch.
This represented a remarkable turnaround from November’s seventh-placed finish in the 2016 Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup – their worst display in Dubai.
Heartbroken skipper Walid Mohammad was full of remorse about the failure to proceed.
He said: “I apologise to the UAE fans. They were the best motivation during the World Cup.
“The team’s badge and the name of the UAE deserved better than this, but this is God’s destiny.”
Portugal’s reward is a tantalising last-eight meeting with Brazil.
UAE’s Group C results