2018 Euro Beach Soccer League
The 2018 Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL) was the 21st edition of the "Euro Beach Soccer League", the annual, premier competition in European beach soccer contested between men's national teams. It was organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), in a league and play-off format. This season, teams continued to take part in two divisions, the top tier (Division A) and the bottom tier (Division B). 12 teams continued to contest Division A, consisting of the top 11 finishers from last year plus Turkey who were promoted to the top tier. Whilst Division B  accommodated 15 nations: 13 nations who did not gain promotion from last season, Georgia who made their debut, plus Greece who were relegated from the top tier at the end of last season. No nations returned after an absence from competing in recent years, however, the Netherlands, who had competed in the last two seasons, did not enter this year. A total of five "stages" of fixtures were scheduled during the regular season. Each team from Division A played in two stages whilst each team in Division B played in one. At each stage the participating nations earned points for  the overall league tables. At the end of the regular season, according to the league tables, the eight best teams in Division A advanced to the post-season event, the Superfinal, to compete to become the winners of this year's EBSL. Meanwhile, the top seven teams in Division B (the four group winners and three best runners-up) and the team ranked bottom of Division A played in a different post-season event, the Promotion Final, to try to earn a spot in Division A next year. The top scorer of the 2002 season, Alan of Portugal, announced his  retirement on 11 June; Alan competed in all 20 EBSL seasons since the inaugural edition in 1998, meaning this year marked the first EBSL season in which he did not feature. The league also acted as the qualification route to the 2019 European Games; the top six teams of the Superfinal plus the Promotion Final winners qualified to joint hosts Belarus. Germany, the defending Division A team in the Promotion Final, beat Romania in the final to win the event, therefore retaining their Division A status for next season. Russia were the defending champions but were knocked out of title -winning contention in the group stage of the Superfinal, ultimately finishing fourth in the post-season event, just the second time (the other 2005), that Russia failed to finish in the top three. The concluding match of the Superfinal was contested between Italy and Spain, who were looking to end 13 and 12-year waits since their last respective EBSL titles (2005 and 2006). Italy, on home sand, won the match on penalties to claim their second European title. Calendar and locations. The schedule was announced on 23 March. For the first time, Azerbaijan and Belarus hosted an EBSL regular  season stage. It was also the first time since the 2013 season that no nations in Division B hosted a stage, only the second time this had occurred since divisions were introduced in 2002. Teams. The following teams have entered this season, in the following divisions (12 in Division A, 15 in Division B). The numbers in parentheses show the European ranking of each team prior to the start of the season, out of 36 nations. Stage 1 (Baku, 22–24 June). "Matches are listed as local time in Baku, AZT (UTC+4)". All matches took place at the "Baku Beach Arena , part of the Flag Square cluster of the European Games Park in Sabail raion, with a capacity of 3,900. The stadium previously hosted the beach soccer event at the 2015 European Games. There were no Division B fixtures during this stage. Awards. The following were presented after the conclusion of the final day's matches. Stage 2 (Nazaré, 6–8 July). Matches are listed as local time in Nazaré, WEST (UTC+1)" All matches took place at the "Estádio do Viveiro" on Praia de Nazaré (Nazaré Beach), in tandem with the hosting of the 2018 Women's Euro Beach Soccer Cup. The  stadium had recently been undergoing redevelopment, increasing its capacity from 1,600 to 2,200. However, one part of the stadium was still awaiting upgrades, meaning the new capacity figure was yet to be fully reached. During this round, Bulgaria won a stage title for the first time (in either division). Awards. The following were presented after the conclusion of the final day's matches. Individual awards apply to Division A only. Stage 3 (Moscow, 20–22 July). "Matches are listed as local time in Moscow, MSK (UTC+3)". All matches took place at "Yantar Beach Soccer Stadium" in the district of Strogino, with  a capacity of 2,500. This was the eighth time Moscow hosted an EBSL event, drawing level with Marseille as the cities to host the most events in the league's history. During this round, Kazakhstan won an EBSL stage title for the first time (in either division). Awards. The following were presented after the conclusion of the final day's matches. Individual awards apply to Division A only. Stage 4 (Minsk, 3–5 August). "Matches are listed as local time in Minsk, FET (UTC+3)". All matches took place at the "National Beach Soccer Stadium", part of the Olympic Sports Complex in  Pyershamayski District, with a capacity of 1,300. With construction beginning on 8 June, the stadium was a newbuild, commissioned specifically for the purpose of hosting the beach soccer event at the 2019 European Games; this stage was organised to take place in Minsk to serve as test event for the new venue ahead of the upcoming games. There were no Division B fixtures during this stage; this contributes to the fact this was the first stage to feature just four teams since the Moscow stage of the 2013 season. Awards. The following were presented after the conclusion of the final  day's matches. Stage 5 (Warnemünde, 24–26 August). "Matches are listed as local time in Warnemünde, CEST (UTC+2)" All matches took place on the site of the "Sport & Beach Arena" on Warnemünde Beach, at the purpose built "DFB Beachsoccer Arena", with a capacity of approximately 1,500 seats. Georgia made their EBSL debut during this stage, the 34th different nation to compete in the league. England claimed the Division B stage crown, meaning they won back-to-back second-tier titles for the first time. Awards. The following were presented after the conclusion of the final day's matches. Individual awards  apply to Division A only. League tables. "At end of regular season" Promotion Final (Alghero, 6–9 September). "Matches are listed as local time in Alghero, CEST (UTC+2)" All matches took place at a purpose built stadium on "Spiaggia del Lido di San Giovanni", with a capacity of approximately 1,500. The winners of the Promotion Final earned a place in Division A next season; they also qualified for the 2019 European Games. Qualified teams. The teams in bold qualified as Division B regular season group winners; those in "italics" qualified as the three best group runners-up. The team in attempted  to retain their position in Division A, having finished bottom of the regular season table. Final standings. Germany won the event to retain their Division A status for the 2019 EBSL season; this was just the second time in ten attempts since the Promotion Final was introduced that the defending Division A team successfully won it to preserve their top tier membership (the other France in 2011). Consequently, no Division B team earned promotion to the top division and no Division A team was relegated this year. Romania claimed the single qualification berth to the 2019 European Games available in  the Promotion Final as the highest ranked team eligible to qualify in the final standings. Superfinal (Alghero, 6–9 September). "Matches are listed as local time in Alghero, CEST (UTC+2)" All matches took place at a purpose built stadium on "Spiaggia del Lido di San Giovanni", with a capacity of approximately 1,500. The winners of the Superfinal were crowned 2018 EBSL champions; the top six (excl. Belarus as they qualified automatically as Games hosts) also earned qualification to the 2019 European Games. Qualified teams. The top eight teams from Division A, as per the end of regular season league table, qualified  for the Superfinal. Awards. Individual awards. "Awarded for feats achieved in the Superfinal only" Final standings. Finalists Spain and Italy faced each other for the first time in an EBSL title-decider; both teams were appearing in their second finals (the others 2014 and 2010 respectively) since they each last won their most recent titles (2006 and 2005 respectively). It was also just the second time (the other Spain vs. France, 2003) that neither Russia nor Portugal reached the final. By winning the Superfinal, Italy ended a 13-year drought (the then current longest wait of any team with a  previous title win) to claim their second EBSL crown; both titles were won on penalties. After nine successive wins, including claiming first place in the regular season, this was Spain's first loss of the season; their wait for a sixth title now continues into its 13th year. Belarus' 5th-place finish was their joint best result (with 2016); the sixth European Games qualifier was therefore decided in the seventh place play-off between Ukraine and Azerbaijan, won by the former. Season statistics. Top scorers. The following tables list the top 12 scorers in each division, including goals scored in  both the regular and post season events. Note there is no award presented for these season-encompassing scoring feats, the tables are for statistical purposes only. Scoring awards were bestowed per stage, with the primary award that which was presented in the Superfinal. Most assists. The following tables list the top 10 assistants in each division including assists provided in both the regular and post season events. Discipline. The following table lists the players and teams who received the most penalties for disciplinary infringements in each division in both the regular and post season events. 2018 Euro Beach Soccer League