Ihar Bryshtsel is the talk of the sport. He capstoned another epic performance for Belarus with a buzzer-beater to stun Portugal. They will now face Italy, comeback conquerors of Tahiti, in the UAE 2024 Dubai™ semi-finals. Brazil and IR Iran, two of the three pre-tournament favourites, will also collide after the former produced an exhilarating performance against Japan and the latter drew on their esteemed fighting spirit to see off a courageous United Arab Emirates challenge.

Brazil 8-4 Japan
Brazil goals: Alisson (2), Bruno Xavier, Rodrigo, Filipe, Brendo, Edson Hulk, Catarino
Japan goals: Oba (2), Yamada, Kawai
Player of the Match: Filipe

Bruno Xavier’s beautiful yet bizarre goal was emblematic of an unforgettable encounter. Brazil scored its first seven goals. Japan got its next four. The Seleção finished it having delivered a palatial performance that will have potential opponents shivering.

Quotes
“This means so much to us. I don’t have the words for how much it means. I’m really, really emotional. I’m really, really happy. These are tears of joy.”
Marco Octavio, Brazil coach

“We played a very good game, but we couldn’t’ win. We are very sorry for our fans and our people. We hope we can do better next time round. I want to congratulate Brazil from the bottom of my heart. I want them to take over Japan and win the tournament on behalf of us.”
Takaaki Oba, Japan player

Stat
Catarino scored Brazil’s 400th goal in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Portugal, on 303, have the next most.

Belarus 4-3 Portugal (AET)
Belarus goals: Bryshtsel (4)
Portugal goals: Algarvio, Jordan, Lopes
Player of the Match: Ihar Bryshtsel

Ihar Bryshtsel has broad shoulders. It’s a good job because he’s carrying an entire nation on them. The blaring Belarusian fans were once again out in force, and they had four goals from their beloved No8 to rejoice, the last of which beat the buzzer to send the two-time champions home.

Quotes
“My buzzer-beater was cosmic! I really like Steph Curry. I watched him score a buzzer-beater. I’m thrilled to have scored one myself.”
Ihar Bryshtsel

I’ve been through every emotion you can imagine. I am very very very happy. It’s something beyond my wildest dreams. To reach the semi-finals, with a last-second goal, against a big team like Portugal, seems absolutely fantastic.
Niko, Belarus coach

stats
Incredibly, Belarus qualified for the semi-finals, as there were only a hundredth of a second left on the clock when Preshtzel scored the winning goal.

IR Iran 2-1 United Arab Emirates
IR Iran goals: Masoumi, Mirjalili
United Arab Emirates goals: Abbas
Player of the Match: Seyed Mirjalili

The atmosphere was electric as Iranians and Emiratis packed Dubai District Design Stadium. It was the latter who erupted first thanks to Abdulla Abbas’s opener, which was indebted to the genius of Ali Mohammad. Another Team Melli match would, however, belong to two goalkeepers once again. Seyed Mirjalili scored a marvellous winner, while Hamid Behzadpour made two awesome stops to deny the UAE.

Quotes
“Each night, before I go to sleep, I think of the Golden Glove. And I imagine that I’m in the stadium for the final of the World Cup. If Iran reach the final, can you give two Golden Gloves? One for me and one for Hamid!”
Seyed Mirjalili

“We really didn’t want to disappoint our amazing fans. They gave us massive support. It was a very close game, but they were luckier than we were. We reached the quarter-finals for the first time in history. We showed we can compete with the world’s big teams.”
Walid Mohammad, United Arab Emirates player

Stat
United Arab Emirates exited the tournament having leaked just five goals – no team has conceded less – in four games.

Italy 5-2 Tahiti
Italy goals: Giordani (2), Bertacca, Josep Jr, Remedi
Tahiti goals: Taiarui, Tetauira
Player of the Match: Luca Bertacca

Antonio Conte and Marco Materazzi played their part in some courageous comebacks, and they watched on in Dubai as the Azzurri rallied to end the Warrior Gods’ campaign. Luca Bertecca, Leandro Casapieri, Marco Giordani and Josep Jr were in formidable form. Twice runners-up, can this fresh, fearless Italy side finally seize the title?

Quotes
“It was a really tough game. We were 2-0 down to a great side in the World Cup quarter-finals. But fight is in Italians’ blood. We will never, ever give up. Now we’re up against the top scorer in the competition. We’ll have to come up with a good strategy to reach the final.”
Josep Jr

“I think Casapieri made the difference. He made a lot of very good saves, and one outstanding one when it was 2-2. Now we’ll try to prepare our new generation for the Seychelles next year.”
Heimanu Taiarui

Stat
Giordani has now registered two lobs from inside his own half at UAE 2024 Dubai.