2005 Euro Beach Soccer League


The 2005 Euro Beach Soccer League, was the eighth edition of the Euro Beach Soccer League, originally known as the European Pro Beach Soccer League, the premier beach soccer competition contested between European men's national teams, occurring annually since its establishment in 1998. The league was organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide between July 8 and August 28, 2005 in five different nations across Europe.
Following the preceding season, BSWW continued organising the nations of the EBSL across three divisions, with each team competing 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.
Italy were ultimately crowned champions, coming back from 5–1 down in the last period of the final to win their first European title. France entered the league as defending champions but lost in the Superfinal semi-finals, finishing the league in third place.

Teams

This season 16 nations took part in the Euro Beach Soccer League whom were and were distributed as follows:

Division A (4)

Division B (8)

Division C (4)

Superfinal berths

There were eight 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
Play off round
Division A 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. 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 four stages all results were tallied up in a final league table.

Stage 1

The first stage took place in Tignes, France. Portugal won the event.

Matches

Final standings

Stage 2

The second stage took place in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. The hosts claimed their second stage win.

Matches

Final standings

Stage 3

The third and penultimate stage took place in Cervia, Italy. The hosts earned their first stage victory. Portugal earned enough points during this stage to secure first place in the final division standings.

Matches

Final standings

Stage 4

The fourth and final stage took place in Santa Ponsa, Mallorca, Spain. Portugal won their third stage title.

Matches

Final standings

Final Division A table

All four Division A teams automatically qualified to the Superfinal. Finishing top of the division table earned that team a bye straight into the semi-finals of the Superfinal, whilst the final positions of the other three nations determined seedings in the quarter-finals.
Portugal were crowned winners, earning the bye into the Superfinal semi finals. Spain, by finishing second, ensured the next highest seeding meaning they would be drawn against the worst ranked team to make the Superfinal in the quarters. On the other hand, France, finishing last, received the lowest seeding in Division A and hence suffered the consequences of having to play next best seed, the winners from Division B.
TeamQualification
1129036046+1427Advance to Superfinal semi-finals
2125165750+717Advance to Superfinal quarter-finals
3124174354−1114Advance to Superfinal quarter-finals
4124085363–1012Advance to Superfinal quarter-finals

Division B

Results

This season Division B was played as a straight knockout tournament. The eight teams contesting the division started in the quarter-finals, playing one match per round until the final when the winner was crowned. The losers of the quarter-finals played in consolation matches to determine their final division placements.

Final Division B standings

The top two nations qualified straight into the Superfinal quarter-finals alongside the three sides from Division A. The third placed team qualified to the Superfinal play-off round to play the winners of Division C to contest the sixth and final quarter-final spot. The remaining Division B nations exited this season's EBSL.
Hungary won the Division B tournament title, whilst hosts Austria claimed the third and final spot in the Superfinal.
RankTeamQualification
'Advance to Superfinal quarter-finals
'Advance to Superfinal quarter-finals
Advance to Superfinal play-off round
4
5
6
7
8

Division C

The nations comprising Division C contested one round of fixtures. The teams played each other once. The nation who earned the most points at the end of the matches was crowned winner the division.

Matches

The fixtures were played in Santa Ponsa, Mallorca, Spain, alongside stage 4 of Division A.

Final Division C table

The winners of Division C solely qualified to the Superfinal play-off round to play the lowest ranked qualifier from Division B to contest the sixth and final quarter-final spot. The remaining Division C nations exited this season's EBSL.
Switzerland were crowned winners.
TeamQualification
13210146+88Advance to Superfinal play-off round
23201105+56
33102910−13
43003517–120

Superfinal

Qualified teams

This is a summary of the teams who qualified for the Superfinal.
SeedTeamDivisionRound entered
1ASemi-finals
2AQuarter-finals
3AQuarter-finals
4AQuarter-finals
5BQuarter-finals
6BQuarter-finals
7BPlay-off round
8CPlay-off round

Results

This season the Superfinal was played as a straight knockout tournament. Six teams contesting the title started in the quarter-finals, with Portugal joining in the semi-finals, playing one match per round until the final when the winner of the 2005 Euro Beach Soccer League was crowned. The losers of the quarter-finals and play-off round played in consolation matches to determine their final league placements.
Firstly, the play-off round took place between the winners of Division C and the lowest ranked qualifiers from Division B for reasons explained earlier. The winners, Switzerland, moved on to the quarter-finals. The losers, Austria, retreated to the consolidation matches.
Following the play-off round, the main knockout stages and consolation matches of the Superfinal took place.

Championship match details

Winners

Superfinal final standings

beat favourites Portugal in the final on penalties to win their first Euro Beach Soccer League title.
TeamNotes
1EBSL Champions
2Runners-up
3Third place
4
5
6
7
8