Football Crazy

What normally springs to mind when the words football, Barcelona and beach are mentioned together? For us, it's a few off duty superstars lounging about on Ibiza's famous Las Salinas beach during their summer break, but for lucky holidaymakers in Benidorm this week it means the 7th annual beach football tournament.

On the 16th and 17th July the Levante beach will be converted into a mini (and grassless) Camp Nou stadium when 24 teams will slog it out for a prize of €600 and the honour of playing against a team from the mighty FC Barcelona.

OK, they won't be sending all their multi-million Euro squad but players of the stature of Busquets, Milla, Julio Salinas, Bakero, Miquel Soler, Carrasco and Amor are already pencilled onto the teamsheet to ensure a prize worth playing for.

11 July 2004 Stephen White.