UAE coach Gustavo Henrique has urged his shell-shocked players to instantly erase the wretched memory of the 11-1 humbling experienced against Brazil as the hosts began the Samsung Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup in ignominious fashion on Tuesday.
The Dubai International Marine Club turned into a slaughterhouse on the opening day of the sixth edition for the Whites – who are ranked 13th in the world – after defender Ahmed Beshr struck an early leveller. This sparked the recently-crowned Supercopa da Nacoes champions into life, with hat-trick hero Catarino and two-goal Mauricinho chief tormentors.
“If we win the next two matches, 1-0 and 10-0 it will be the same,” said Brazilian Henrique, whose men are next in action on Tuesday in Group A against Tahiti. “But we still have two matches to play. We need to keep our chin up and think about the next game.
“This is one day we need to make sure we forget forever. They did not want to play. Most of the goals we conceded because the players were lazy.
“If you lose to Brazil, it’s OK – that’s part of sport. But if you lose because you do not fight, that’s really disappointing. So that is something the players need to think about.”
Meanwhile, the United States and Iran put political tensions to one side as the Persians prevailed 6-2. Games between the nations are usually hotly-billed, most notably their clash at World Cup 1998. But for US skipper Nicolas Perera, such thoughts were far from his mind when lining up against the 2013 winners in Group B.
“You are overestimating the ability for athletes to think through things,” the forward joked. “We are athletes at the end of the day. We try to keep it on the field, no matter what else is going on.
“I thought we gave Iran quite a match. That is the kind of match we hope to give Russia.”
Elsewhere in that section, holders Russia had braces from defender Aleksey Makarov and forward Boris Nikonorov to thank as they held off Egypt to win 10-6.
In the other pool, midfielder Raimoana Bennett was the star for last year’s runners-up Tahiti as his double helped them to a 5-4 win against Poland as the five-day competition kicked off.
