Swiss Beach Soccer National Team Information for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 21st November – 1st December 2019 in Asuncion, Paraguay In a nutshell Swiss Beach Soccer was founded in 2001 by national coach Angelo Schirinzi and CEO Reto Wenger. In Paraguay, the national team of Switzerland will participate at its fifth World Cup, following 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2017. Its biggest success at a global stage has been a silver medal effort right at the 1st participation back in 2009. So far in 2019, the Swiss have won the bronze medal at the European Games in Minsk and finished in 4th place at the World Cup Qualifiers in Moscow. The team is currently sitting in 8th place in the Beach Soccer world ranking. The history of the Swiss Beach Soccer National Team 2001 Foundation 2005 European Champions in Moscow 2008 Silver medalist at European Championship in Baku 2009 Silver medalist at World Cup in Dubai Silver medalist at European Championship in Rome 2012 Winner of the Euro-Beach-Soccer-League-Superfinal in Den Haag Bronze medalist at European Championship in Moscow 2014 Silver medalist at European Championship in Baku 2019 Bronze medalist at European Games in Minsk European Qualifiers 2019 The European Qualifiers for the 2019 FIFA World Cup were held in July 2019 in Moscow, Russia. In the preliminary Group E, Switzerland defeated Lithuania and Turkey, before eventually falling to Belarus in a penalty shootout. The Round of 16 saw the Swiss facing Turkey for a second time, resulting in a 8-2 victory. The following Round Robin started with a 3-9 defeat at the hands of the eventual winner of the tournament Russia, before a key 9-6 over Spain and the ensuing 3-2 over Azerbaijan sealed the qualification. The Swiss finished the tournament 4th overall after a loss in a rematch with Belarus. Philipp Borer (9 goals) and Dejan Stankovic (7) were the team’s leading goal scorers. Group Stage – Group E Lithuania - Switzerland 1:8 Switzerland – Turkey 4:2 Switzerland - Belarus 2:3 PSO Round of 16 Switzerland – Turkey 8:2 Round Robin – Group 2 Switzerland –Russia 3:9 Spain - Switzerland 6:9 Azerbaijan – Switzerland 2:3 Third place game Belarus – Switzerland 6:2 Schedule of the Swiss team in 2019 Date Game/Tournament Result May 2019 World Beach Games - Europe 4th place - qualified Qualifiers June 2019 European Games 3rd place, bronze medal winner July 2019 Euro Beach Soccer League 3rd in Div A Gr. 1 – qualified for Superfinal July 2019 Europe Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 4th place - qualified August 2019 Friendly match vs Denmark 14:4 win September 2019 Euro Beach Soccer League Superfinal 8th place October 2019 World Beach Games 2019 2nd place in Gr. A behind BRA World Cup 21.11, 17:50 Switzerland vs USA 23.11, 21:00 Paraguay vs Switzerland 25.11, 17:50 Japan vs Switzerland (local Asuncion time) Player profiles #1 Eliott Mounoud • Age: 24 • Total games: 11 • 1st World Cup • Coach Schirinzi: “New in the team, but experienced on club level. Very strong technique. Has a hard shot and can make quick plays” #2 Daniele Pichierri • Age: 28 • Total games: 31 • 1st World Cup • Coach Schirinzi: “Returns after a break due to work reasons. A player with a strong physique and upside” #3 Angelo Wüest • Age: 29 • Total games: 36 • 1st World Cup • Coach Schirinzi: “Great allrounder. Important team player, has scored clutch goals” #4 Philipp Borer • Age: 29 • Total games: 152 • 2nd World Cup • EBSL Winner 2012 • Coach Schirinzi: “Dangerous offensive player, has a great shot. Leading goal scorer in the Qualifiers” #5 Jan Ostgen • Age: 23 • Total games: 44 • 1st World Cup • Coach Schirinzi: “Can play in an offensive or defensive role. A young player who's making good progress” #6 Tobias Steinemann • Age: 23 • Total games: 75 • 1st World Cup • Coach Schirinzi: “A coach's player: reliable and disciplined allrounder with upside” #7 Sandro “Spacca” Spaccarotella • Age: 37 • Total games: 311 • 5th World Cup • EBSL Winner 2012 / Silver medal at 2009 Worlds • Coach Schirinzi: “Elder statesman of the team. Strong at initiating the play, important with his experience” #8 Moritz “Mo” Jäggy • Age: 36 • Total games: 351 • 5th World Cup • European Champion 2005 / EBSL Winner 2012 / Silver medal at 2009 Worlds • Coach Schirinzi: “Team captain and long-time defensive leader of the team. Physically strong, a leader on and off the field” #9 Dejan Stankovic • Age: 34 • Total games: 335 • 5th World Cup • European Champion 2005 / EBSL Winner 2012 / Silver medal at 2009 Worlds • Coach Schirinzi: “The leading goal scorer in numerous tournaments is nicknamed "bomber of the nation". At 34, he's still one of the best worldwide” #10 Noel Ott • Age: 25 • Total games: 149 • 3rd World Cup • Coach Schirinzi: “At 25, he's already one of the best in the world. Excellent sense for the game, lightning fast” #11 Glenn Hodel • Age: 22 (turns 23 on 22nd November) • Total games: 113 • 3rd World Cup • Coach Schirinzi: “Young but already experienced. Strong in the air, thus scores many spectacular goals. Still has untapped upside” #12 Valentin Jäggy • Age: 33 • Total games: 319 • 5th World Cup • European Champion 2005 / EBSL Winner 2012 / Silver medal at 2009 Worlds • Coach Schirinzi: “15-year veteran. His strong footplay has been key for the team's success” Full Swiss roster for the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup The Swiss opponents in Group A Paraguay (World ranking: 7) • 4th participation, host nation • Best finish: Quarterfinalist in 2017 Japan (12) • 10th participation – have appeared in all World Cups (best result: 4th place) • Winners of Asian Qualifiers United States of America (15) • 5th participation (best result: 10th place, twice) • Runner-up at the CONCACAF Qualifiers Social Media accounts Swiss Football Association (www.football.ch) @nationalteams_sfvasf facebook.com/SFA @SFV_ASF Swiss Beach Soccer (www.beachsoccer.ch) @swissbeachsoccer facebook.com/swissbeachsoccer @swi_beachsoccer Philipp Borer Glenn Hodel @philippborer @lifeofgali Moritz Jäggy Valentin Jäggy @mojaeggy @valentinjaeggy Eliott Mounoud Jan Ostgen @eliooott_10 @janostgen Noel Ott Daniele Pichierri @noelott @daniii_15 Sandro Spaccarotella Dejan Stankovic @sany_s7 @deki_stankovic Tobias Steinemann Angelo Wüest @tobisteinemann @angi_wueest Angelo Schirinzi @angelo.schirinzi Media contacts Reto Wenger, Head of Delegation, [email protected], 0041 79 416 22 50 Alfonso Mancuso, Team Media Officer, [email protected], 0041 79 139 18 05 Important links http://www.football.ch/SFV/Nationalteams/Beach-Soccer.aspx www.beachsoccer.ch https://www.fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup/ .