A title in Strasbourg
On 23 August, the French blind football team retained their European championship by beating England 1-0 in Strasbourg. The match, which lasted two twenty-minute periods, saw the Blues win thanks to a single goal, but at a cost of emotion and spectacle.
A decisive goal
Captain Frédéric Villeroux opened the score in the 10th minute of the first period. His shot, aimed at the small net, surprised the English goalkeeper Dylan Malpas. The goal marked the start of a quadruple that France had already scored against England in the group stage.
A match full of emotion
The Blues multiplied their shots, with Martin Baron and Babacar Niang, but failed to widen the gap. Coach Toussaint Akpweh insisted on the need to “not shift to a defensive plan,” fearing it would give confidence back to the opponent. Six minutes before the final whistle, Villeroux almost sealed the win by bouncing the ball off the goalkeeper’s foot and hand, but the score was already set.
Villeroux said on the France Télévisions mic: “Offensively, we could have scored more. That’s the weak point, but the goal of the game is to win and 1-0 is enough.” He added that playing in front of more than 1 000 people, when there are usually 30 around the pitch, was huge and that he hopes enthusiasm for parasport continues. He even mentioned the possibility of extending to the Los Angeles Games if his body allows.
The Blues heading to Los Angeles
This victory adds a fourth European title to France’s record (2009, 2011, 2022, 2026). The Blues remain the reigning Paralympic champions and are already preparing for the Paris Games, while keeping the option of competing in Los Angeles. The stadium, which hosted the Paralympic Games at the Eiffel Tower, has once again shown that blind football can captivate a large audience.
Conclusion
With this win, France consolidates its dominance in blind football and shows that sport can inspire and bring people together, even in the smallest stadiums.
