The Solomon Islands Bilikiki will kick off their 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Finals campaign against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Rio de Janeiro on November 2nd. The Bilikiki will then face South American giants, Uruguay, on November 4th before they conclude the group stage against Portugal on November 6th.
It will be the first time a team from the Oceania Football Confederation other than Australia or New Zealand has qualified for a FIFA world event.
The Solomon Islands first opponents, Cameroon, will be skippered by former international goalkeeper, Joseph-Antoine Bell, whose side lifted the CAF (Confederation Africain de Football) title with a 5-3 victory over rivals, Nigeria, during their qualification campaign in Durban, South Africa.
Portugal will provide a stern test after finishing runners-up in last year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, a campaign that included a dramatic 6-6 draw with Brazil in the semi-final before Portugal prevailed 2-1 in a penalty shoot-out. The Portuguese faced France in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Final and following a 3-3 draw, lost 1-0 in yet another penalty shoot-out.
Portugal has regularly finished in the top four of regional and world tournaments and stars former Algerian international and African Footballer of the Century, Rabah Madjer, who finished top goal scorer at last year’s tournament for the Portuguese netting 12 goals. The former Porto striker has a European Cup winners medal and appeared at the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup with Algeria.
Uruguay – beaten quarter-finalists last time – possess a formidable goal scoring record in FIFA Beach World Cup competition scoring an impressive 17 goals in their 4 matches in Rio de Janeiro last year. Uruguay’s defensive record is the least impressive of the Bilikiki’s opponents but with a wealth of experience to draw on the South American’s will be no less a threat.
Group A
Brazil
Poland
USA
Japan
Group B
Spain
France
Canada
Iran
Group C
Solomon Islands
Cameroon
Portugal
Uruguay
Group D
Italy
Bahrain
Argentina
Nigeria
Group Stage Match Schedule (Local Time Rio de Janeiro)
November 2
9.40am: ARG vs. NGA
11.00am: POR vs. URU
12.20pm: ITA vs. BHR
1.40pm: SOL vs. CMR
November 3
9.40am: USA vs. JPN
11.00am: BRA vs. POL
12.20pm: CAN vs. IRN
1.40pm: ESP vs. FRA
November 4
9.40am: URU vs. SOL
11.00am: NGA vs. ITA
12.20pm: CMR vs. POR
1.40pm: BHR vs. ARG
November 5
9.40am: FRA vs. CAN
11.00am: BRA vs. JPN
12.20pm: POL vs. USA
1.40pm: IRN vs. ESP
November 6
9.40am: BHR vs. NGA
11.00am: CMR vs. URU
12.20pm: ITA vs. ARG
1.40pm: SOL vs. POR
November 7
9.40am: FRA vs. IRN
11.00am: BRA vs. USA
12.20pm: ESP vs. CAN
1.40pm: POL vs. JPN