Does that make it hard for a team like Portugal to play their own game against them?
Yes and no. Their physical style can make it difficult to begin with, but after a while you start to find your rhythm. That’s when you have to make your technique count. You can stop teams like Ukraine from playing provided you’ve got that talent. Is Pylypenko the pick of the Ukraine team in your opinion? Quite a few players have made an impression on me this year, but yes, he’s their outstanding performer. The way he controls the ball and keeps it on the ground reminds me a little of Brazil’s Juninho. He’s a great player without a doubt. Let’s turn now to your career. How did you find your way into beach soccer? I was playing football at junior level when I had very serious biking accident (he shows two huge scars on his legs). I had to give up all sport for two years, but when I recovered I was invited to play in an amateur tournament. That was in 1997 and Joao Benarbe, who was Portugal’s beach soccer coach at the time, was in the stands. He liked what he saw and said I should give t
