Luck was not on Argentina’s side at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 Dubai™. They were, indeed, thrown into the group of death alongside IR Iran, Spain and Tahiti, who had four podium finishes between them.

Argentina may have fallen at the first hurdle, but they did themselves proud. A 4-3 loss to Tahiti preceded a 6-3 defeat by Iran, before they beat Spain 5-4.

Manuel Pomar starred on Emirati sand, scoring twice. Now he’s keen to help the Albiceleste secure a top-three finish at the Copa America, which will take place in Iquique, Chile between 22 February and 2 March, and consequently a slot at Seychelles 2025.

“Our main aim is to qualify for the World Cup, Pomar told FIFA. “We want to give a good account of ourselves at the World Cup in order to make up for failing to make it out of the very tough group we were handed.

“Despite not progressing to the knockout rounds, we still put in some very good performances. Not only did we show that we were good enough to qualify, but I also think we deserved more. We performed really well.

“Iran had a great tournament, they reached the semi-finals and were unlucky to lose to Brazil. But we know ourselves that we were only one goal away with just a minute-and-a-half left on the clock. Against Tahiti, their goalkeeper scored for them with the last kick of the game, and we deservedly beat Spain. Overall, we performed really well and we would have probably done just as well if not better in any other group. So we’re champing at the bit to go one step further this time around.”

You’ve been handed another tough group at the Copa America…
Manuel Pomar: We know it’s going to be a very tough group as every side, from Brazil right the way through to Venezuela, is capable of qualifying. But at the same time, we know that if you want to compete at the World Cup, you have to go face to face with every team and beat them. Well, maybe you don’t need to beat them all, but you have to be on top of your game to make it to the World Cup. We’re under no illusion that it’s a very difficult group and we know that every game is going to be like playing in a final. We’re in the same group as two of the best sides in the competition, Brazil and Paraguay. But we came runners-up last time out and we know that if we play to the best of our ability, we can go really far in the tournament. That’s very reassuring for us because our fate is in our own hands.

Where would you say South American beach soccer ranks in comparison to teams from the rest of the world?
I think that, with the exception of Brazil, we’re still slightly behind the other teams. Especially in terms of professionalism and how beach soccer is played in other countries. But I still think there is a lot of raw talent and ability in South America. And with a bit of extra effort and professionalism, we wouldn’t be far behind those other countries. At the World Cup, we had the opportunity to play against Spain, who at the time were the second-best team in the world. They are a very experienced side, they have many quality players and they ooze professionalism, yet we managed to beat them. So I think that’s the most important thing.

Do you think the gap between Brazil and Argentina is still big, or would you say it’s getting smaller?
It’s definitely getting smaller. We’re working hard every single day in order to achieve our dream of beating Brazil. Just like we did at U-20 level, and just like other teams have done in the past. There is still a bit of a gulf in class, especially because of the experience they possess. I think that’s the main thing that sets them apart. But yes, we believe that we’re gradually closing the gap through hard work and perseverance. The gap is getting smaller and smaller, but we still have a lot of work to do in order to reach their level. As things currently stand, they’re better than us.

How would you describe this current Argentina side?
I’d say we’re a very versatile side. We’re all in our prime right now, both the older players and the younger players. I think we’ve got a good balance and mix of experienced heads in the side as well as younger talent coming through. I think we’ve come on leaps and bounds from a technical point of view. We’re very versatile in the sense that we can shake up how we play and use different systems. We’re gradually starting to use our goalkeeper a bit more, which is something we never used to do.

I think we’re better now than we’ve ever been, mainly because of the age of the players. The older ones have really come into their own as they’ve gotten older. The younger players are getting more and more game time, and we’re improving and moving in the right direction. Especially from a technical point of view. I think the main reason for our progression and improvement is that we’ve been working extremely hard for a long time. If you consistently work hard and put a lot of effort in, you improve a lot from a technical point of view and that allows you to have different game plans and systems to use during games. We’ve got a lot of tricky, technical players as well as players who are really good at finding the back of the net. I’ve got a lot of faith in this side.

Is it significant that you’ve been drawn in the same group as Brazil at the Copa America?
We were in the same group as Brazil at the last Copa America. All it means is that we can’t meet them again until the final. It’s good for us to play teams like Brazil, so we know where we’re at performance wise. The last time we played each other, we had both already qualified, so both sides took their foot off the pedal in order to save themselves for the latter stages of the tournament and to avoid any suspensions. I’m not sure whether we should be relieved that we won’t have to face them in the semi-final. But it’s also a nice challenge for us and it’s something we’re looking forward to. And who knows, we might go shoulder to shoulder with them in the final. It’s a good opportunity for us to play them in the group stage so we know where we’re at. It’s the last game of the group stage and who knows, we might have both already qualified for the knockout stage. Or we might end up fighting tooth and nail with them to qualify.

How do you think beach soccer is evolving?
Nowadays, in every country in the world – every nation, every club – they like to use their goalkeeper. This is something we’re yet to incorporate into our game plans. We still set up with a 3-1 formation. I think the game has improved a lot in a physical and technical sense. Nowadays, I think all national teams are slowly but surely becoming more professional. I remember that at the World Cup, the majority of the teams were playing professionally. That means that players can make a living out of the sport. It leads to better trained, faster, more physical and stronger players. So I think the sport has evolved a lot from a tactical point of view.
It makes sense to use your goalkeeper whenever possible because it gives the rest of the team a much-needed breather. In that sense, we don’t suffer too much by not using our goalkeeper because we’re a very physically fit side. And from a technical and tactical point of view, I think the players have improved a lot. Players are getting taller all the time. That’s something that surprised me when we played at the World Cup. So I think the sport has developed a lot in many different ways, and it’s getting better and better.