Six-time champion team on sand arrives in Brazil with Romario praised: 'They deserve it' | Beach soccer

Six-time beach soccer world champions Brazil arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Monday with a bag full of the Champion's Trophy they won in Dubai, as well as a Gold Glove, a Silver Ball and a four-time champion's trophy. Romario, the 1994 Tetra champion, followed the victory last Sunday in the United Arab Emirates, and upon his arrival in the country, he praised the team and its top scorer Rodrigo, who scored three goals in the victory over Italy in the decider.

– Congratulations to the beach soccer team for making history in our country, champions six times. Rodrygo in particular for his great performance with the goals he scored. For me, as a Brazilian, to be in Dubai at that moment, to support the team and see them win, is a really great feeling. (Rodrigo) He really has to speak up, it's his time, and he has to respect him! I met him at the airport (in Dubai) and we actually talked. Congratulations to Rodrigo again, and congratulations to everyone. “You really deserve it,” Romario said upon landing at Galeão International Airport.

Romario knows what he's talking about. In addition to being the 1994 world champion on grass, he participated in the 2005 Beach Soccer World Cup in Copacabana, when Brazil won the bronze medal. In Rio de Janeiro, he met Rodrigo again and congratulated him in front of the camera.

-This is the worst of the worst! You deserve everything, brother. Congratulations! This is the bad guy, you have to respect him.

– I joked with my friends that you were lucky, and it was a day for Romario, and he scored three goals in the final – said Rodrigo next to his idol.

Coach Marco Octavio, who took over the national team in April 2022 after the departure of Gilberto Costa, did not hide his pride in his squad of players.

-These boys are an honor to work with. We have been through a two-year process to get to this moment and it has created a problem for the Brazilian Confederation, which has to put the sixth star here on our shirt. It's a good problem to have. But now we will continue to celebrate these next few days and plan to stay at the top of the rankings.

– I'm from that time when we started with Junior, Edinho, Claudio Adao and Paolo Sergio, and we created the idea of ​​a beach soccer hero, and things changed from romantic to professional. We have to follow this entire process. We have a plan, a new game idea, and all of this makes sure we are on the right track.

– (It was) a very difficult semi-final match, 2-0 (against). The school is in Iran, the coach Marco Octavio is the one who formed that team, he knows it well. It was a very difficult match, but with the unity of the group, the obedience of the group, and the leadership of Marco and the fans, we were able to turn things around with Breno's goal. For me, Perino's goal was the title goal. We commented on that there, (with the goal scored) with 40 seconds left in the game. “Thank God we were able to win and convince of the unity of the group,” said Bruno Xavier, also a world champion with the team in 2017.

-I think Iran is a team where I always wanted to play as forward as possible. I worked there for seven years, and I know very well how much this sport has developed in the country, as it is a top-class school today, competing head-to-head with Brazil. We knew it would be a difficult match, but we always believe in the ability of our team, given the heavy jersey we have. And everything went well. He gave what he had to give, he gave Brazil.

Ednaldo Rodriguez, president of the Brazilian Federation, came with the delegation and promised to create a national beach soccer competition.

– The Brazilian Football Confederation, since the adoption of beach soccer and futsal, has made the necessary investments to be able to hold competitions on FIFA dates, and we are now working on idealizing the national beach soccer competition where all clubs can play in Brazil, and preparing more For the beach soccer tournament. We won the seventh championship.

Brazil is the biggest champion of the Beach Soccer World Cup. The team previously won the title in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2017. Russia has three titles, Portugal has two and France has one. Italy is still without a title and is once again runner-up to Brazil, as happened in the 2008 final.