“I have a new role now of course, but once the match starts I’m a player,” Japan coach Ozu Moreira told FIFA.com ahead of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021™. “At half-time I talk to my team as coach – but my job is on the pitch and I’ll play.”

Holding a position as player-coach is unusual enough at club level, but on the international stage it is almost unheard of. But if anyone is up to the task, it is Moreira. Growing up, the 35-year-old followed beach soccer more intensively than most and he has played alongside and against some of the world’s best during his career.

“When I took over here about a year ago, we had a lot of training sessions but no games,” he said. “How can you test and assess your team like that?” The Japanese beach soccer icon took over the reins from Ruy Ramos in June 2020, and brought in none other than his former team-mate Teruki Tabata as his assistant: “Tabata will watch on from the bench and have an overview of everything. I’ll play from the start and will think like a player.” Could that be the perfect foundation for a successful tournament?

Preparations for the Beach Soccer World Cup 2021 have not been easy due to the coronavirus pandemic; no friendly games and no way of gauging their level against other teams. “Yes, it’s been a difficult time for everyone,” Moreira said. “But we didn’t have any positive coronavirus cases and the national association took care of us brilliantly. We didn’t have any games but we did everything we could. We’re well prepared.”

At the 11th edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which takes place from 19-29 August at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, Japan are in a tough group against tournament hosts Russia, as well as Paraguay and USA. “Russia are definitely one of the favourites and the support of the fans will be a big boost for them.” Moreira is speaking from experience, having himself played in the Russia beach soccer league.

One of the best defenders in the sport, Moreira was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro and played against the likes of Rafinha, Boquinha and Mauricinho on the Copacabana. “Of course I dreamed about becoming a beach soccer player,” he said. But he never wanted to play for Canarinha. Instead, he moved to Japan in 2007 and became a Japanese citizen in 2012.

The decision more than paid off in 2019 when he led the Japanese team to the AFC Beach Soccer Championship title, where he finished as top scorer and was named as the competition’s most valuable player. That was followed by a fourth-placed finish at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay, where he captained the side and took home the adidas Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

Might he now get his hands on the trophy in Russia? “We’re confident going into the World Cup,” he said. “We want to go there, get a good result and play for a medal.”

Moreira is particularly looking forward to being in Russia: “In August the weather will be great in Moscow, which is a wonderful city. I think it’ll be fantastic for the Beach Soccer World Cup to be held there. I can’t wait!”