Russia surprises Brazil and wins the world beach soccer championship.

Agência Estado - Brazil was surprised by Russia and ended up as runner-up in the Beach Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy. With an unrecognizable performance, far from the team that usually dominates the sport, coach Alexandre Soares's team suffered a historic 12-8 defeat this Sunday.

Right from the start of the game, the Russian team went on the attack and opened up a 3-0 lead. With a daring tactic, in which he changed the team's formation three times in four minutes, coach Mikhail Likhachev surprised the Brazilians, who were struggling on the court. André, with a penalty goal and another from a free kick, reduced the score in the first period, but, at the beginning of the second period, Eremeev increased the advantage with a bicycle kick.

It was precisely in the second period that Russia practically decided the victory. Eremeev again, Makarov twice, Shishin, and an own goal by Betinho, meant that the Europeans went into the third period with a 9-4 advantage - Betinho and Sidney scored for Brazil.

In the final period, André took responsibility and tried to get the Brazilian team back into the game, scoring four goals. But it was too late, and the Russians managed to maintain their lead and scored three more goals – two by Shishin and one by Leonov.

With the defeat, Brazil's dream of a fifth World Cup title will have to wait until the next edition of the tournament, in 2013, in Tahiti. Russia, meanwhile, won its first title in the competition. The consolation for Brazil came from André, who, with the six goals he scored on Sunday, surpassed Portugal's Madjer and finished as top scorer with 14 goals.