Global Information2021 Euro Beach Soccer League information
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host countries | Portugal Moldova |
| Dates | 17 June – 12 September |
| Teams | 24 (from 1 confederation) |
| Venue(s) | 4 (in 3 host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Portugal (8th title) |
| Runners-up |  Belarus |
| Third place |  Italy |
| Fourth place |  Spain |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 76 |
| Goals scored | 566 (7.45 per match) |
Chișinău
The 2021 Euro Beach Soccer League was the 24th season of the Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL), 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.
After only Division A went ahead last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the 2021 season, the competing teams returned to taking part in two divisions: the top tier (Division A) and the bottom tier (Division B). 12 teams contested Division A; all twelve teams returned from the 2019 season after only five participated in 2020 due to travel constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Division B also accommodated 12 nations: those who did not gain promotion in 2019, Slovakia making their debut, and teams that returned after an absence from competing in recent years prior to 2020.
Due to continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the season's format was altered considerably compared to the usual program.[1] A total of just two stages of fixtures were scheduled during the regular season. All 12 teams from Division A played together in just one stage (compared to the usual two) whilst each team in Division B also played together in one stage.
The eight best teams in Division A advanced to the post-season event, the Superfinal, to compete to become the winners of the EBSL. Meanwhile, the top seven teams in Division B 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 in 2022.
Estonia were promoted to Division A for the first time after beating Turkey to claim the Promotion Final title; the Turks, having finished last in Division A, failed to defend their place in the Promotion Final and were therefore relegated to Division B, ending their four-year run in the top tier. Portugal were the two-time defending champions and successfully defended the title, extending their record total to eight European crowns; by winning a third consecutive title, Portugal matched the feat only previously achieved by Spain between 1999 and 2001.[2] Belarus reached their first final, and became the first new nation to finish in the top four since Romania in 2011. Despite winning the 2021 World Cup just a fortnight prior, Russia failed to finish in the top four for the first time since 2006.
- ^ a b "Groups announced for 2021 Euro Beach Soccer League". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ "Portugal win third consecutive EBSL Superfinal". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.