No sand is no problem for war-torn nation's growing legion of young beach soccer players. Agence France-presse reports

On a makeshift "beach" in landlocked Afghanistan, children as young as 8, wearing baggy Real Madrid and Barcelona shirts with "Ronaldo" and "Bale" and "Messi" on the back, joyfully kick and chase a soccer ball.

Kabul's Ghazi stadium was the scene of gruesome executions under Taliban rule, but today it is where Afghan youths, the majority of whom have never seen the sea, dream of representing their country in the beach version of "the beautiful game."