Solomon's Bilikiki boys draw Italy, Portugal and El Salvador in Beach Soccer World Cup

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Beach Soccer champions Solomon Islands Bilikiki will face Portugal, Italy and El Salvador at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Marseille 2008 after the draw was made in Benidorm, Spain, earlier today.

Solomon Islands will take on Portugal again in a repeat of their meeting at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Rio de Janeiro 2006 in which the “Bilikiki Boys” were soundly beaten 2-14.

Portugal eventually finished in fourth place after Solomon Islands were eliminated at the first stage on goal difference.

Italy will provide a new test for the “Bilikiki Boys”.

Italy makes regular appearances at FIFA events in this form of football but has yet to dominate beach in the same way it does in eleven-a-side football.

Its finals records in this tournament is similar to Solomon Islands with one victory in its last six matches at FIFA event level.

The Italians have been eliminated at the first round stage in the last two FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups and did not qualify for the event in 2005.

El Salvador qualified from CONCACAF in second place to Mexico – a team Solomon Islands lost to 3-6 at last year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

It will be El Salvador’s first appearance at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Solomon Islands “Bilikiki Boys” will be making their third consecutive appearance at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Marseille 2008 kicks off on 17 July 2008 and concludes on 27 July 2008.

Source: OFC