In a new chapter of their modern rivalry, France He was proclaimed the new king of football in the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 by defeating on penalties (1-1, 3-2) a Argentine national team superior in the game, this Saturday at the foot of the majestic Eiffel Tower, with a definitive launch from its captain Frédéric Villeroux.
After the first five editions won by Brazil, France took over the baton in adapted 5-a-side football for the blind, also taking its Paralympic revenge against its ‘best enemy’ Argentina, winner of the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, also on penalties.
The national team has won three silver medals and two bronze medals in a Paralympic football competition in which it has only missed out on the podium once.
In the match for third place Brazil beat Colombia 1-0 and took the bronze.
In the final, the score was changed in the 12th minute. Villeroux, number 10 of the ‘Bleus’, ran the length of the pitch before placing the ball on one of the posts and kneeling in front of an Eiffel Tower that was beginning to light up.
It was the only shot on target for France in the 30 minutes of regulation time – Argentina had seven.
With less epic but enough skill, Maximiliano ‘Gordo’ Espinillo then equalised, opportunely in the area to convert a loose ball.
Singing cumbia, guided by a portable speaker, the ‘Bats’ had landed near the ‘Iron Lady’ with the aplomb that came from having been able to dethrone Brazil in the semi-finals.
But this Saturday their dominance did not crystallize on the scoreboard. Argentina was more accurate in feints, a fundamental aspect of the game in this variant of traditional football in which passing is obviously much more complicated.
His were the best chances, a shot after a recovery by Osvaldo Fernández that grazed the post (2) and two forays by Espinillo (10) in which he was unable to connect with the shot.
‘El Gordo’, a machinist when it came to gaining ground with the ball at his feet, maintained a relentless, at times aggressive, duel with Villeroux, also a master in the art of keeping the ball with effective armwork.
In the second half, Espinillo came close to scoring again with a well-executed free kick that was met by a well-deserved stretch from Alessando Bartolomucci – goalkeepers are sighted or partially sighted. Two other shots of his (22 and 23) were also saved by the goalkeeper.
The already popular ‘Silent Wave’ was displayed in the stands, only gestural and silent, so as not to disturb the players, who are guided by the bells built into the ball, so that silence reigns during the game.
After the equaliser in the half-hour of regulation time, the match was decided on penalties – three per team. Espinillo and Mario Ríos scored for Argentina, but the third shot, by Nahuel Heredia, was saved by the goalkeeper.
This time France celebrated the gold and Argentina consoled itself with the silver.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
