Monday 08 May 2017, 07:48

Brazil take pride in fifth star

  • Brazil’s players react with raw emotion to their long-awaited fifth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup win

  • Brazil's victory at Bahamas 2017 was their first for eight years

  • Captain Bruno Xavier said his side ‘honoured the name of our country’

Brazil’s players could barely contain their emotions in the wake of ending their eight-year FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup drought on Sunday.

Brazil collected their fifth world title in truly stunning fashion with a sparkling 6-0 win in the final over 2015 runners-up Tahiti.

Incredibly, it was also Brazil’s 35th successive victory in competitive beach soccer matches.

“We are more than a group of players, of men, we are a team that gave life to the idea of winning this title to honour the name of our country,” said star skipper Bruno Xavier. “We are Brazil, we are five-time champions of the world, I am very happy that we can take that conquest back to our country.”

Defender Catarino, who scored an impressive eight goals at Bahamas 2017, said the team were rewarded for a long and dedicated preparation. "It's the crowning of a job,” he said. “It is the reward for a group that prepared in the best way.

“We dedicated ourselves and fought with all our might to achieve this title that Brazil has dreamed of for so long. It is impossible to measure the emotion, and a feeling that is difficult to describe, but it is something that marks all our lives and that will be remembered forever.”

Mauricinho, who scored two goals in the final and won the adidas Silver Ball told FIFA.com: "It still hasn’t sunk in, to be honest it’s a dream come true. Ever since I was a kid, I dreamt about playing beach soccer and being a world champion. To do that, and also win the silver ball is a dream come true."

There were further accolades for Brazil who, in addition to being named winners of the Fair Play Award, saw Datinha collect the adidas Bronze Ball, while Rodrigo earned the adidas Silver Scorer, second only to prolific Italian Gabriele Gori.