France’s blind soccer workforce gained the nation’s first-ever Paralympic gold with a win over Argentina and the assist of a boisterous crowd at Eiffel Tower Stadium
Hosts France secured gold in blind soccer after a 3-2 victory on penalties, with 41-year-old hero Frederic Villeroux scoring the winner within the shootout following a 1-1 attract common time.
On a magical night beneath the brilliant lights of the Eiffel Tower, French desires had been realised as they turn out to be solely the second-ever nation to win Paralympic blind soccer gold. It began with a spine-tingling rendition of the nationwide anthem; from then on, it was Argentina’s 5 males in opposition to France’s, plus 11,000 folks.
“It felt just like the script of a movie,” Villeroux stated.
“I usually don’t take penalty kicks. It’s not my factor. However immediately the coach got here to speak to me and stated it was my time. I really feel so nice I managed to attain that objective.
Villeroux refused to take particular person credit score for the victory, as an alternative heaping reward on his teammates.
“I’m not a superhero, the entire workforce are. This can be a workforce fashioned by superheroes, and the followers had been superheroes, too.”
Les Bleus took the lead simply three minutes earlier than half time when star participant Villeroux fired residence a objective. All 4 corners of the stadium erupted, simply because the Eiffel Tower started to light up the darkening skyline.
However their pleasure was short-lived. Maximiliano Espinillo bundled the ball into the online nearly immediately, leaving the house crowd to as soon as once more rally the troops with a rendition of “Allez les Bleus”.
That music was a everlasting fixture of each break in play. The environment was fearsome when allowed, flags had been waving, and the noise ranges rising by the second.
Villeroux noticed a shot blocked as France searched to reestablish their lead earlier than half time, however Argentina survived to remain degree.
French goalkeeper Alessandro Bartolomucci was compelled to make two robust saves after the restart, with the group struggling to comprise themselves within the rising stress. To maintain themselves occupied, they partook in a silent Mexican wave.
Behind the objective to the left, a throng of French assist was sustained by a megaphone and a drum between play; everybody was doing their bit to assist France get there.
With seconds remaining, Argentina had a free kick. Silence fell throughout the stadium, out of nerves as a lot as necessity, however it was blocked and the whistle quickly went for full time and penalties.
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The kicks within the shootout had been excellent till a miss from Nahuel Heredia provided Villeroux an opportunity to safe the win; he collapsed in a heap beneath the burden of what he’d completed, securing historical past and immortalisation for France.
Brazil win bronze
In the meantime, earlier on, Brazil legend Jefinho scored the one objective as they beat Colombia 1-0 to assert the bronze medal.
Brazil was crushed for the primary time in Paralympic historical past by Argentina within the semifinals, however recovered nicely with a dominant efficiency and will have gained by extra.
“This workforce by no means gave up,” Jefinho stated.
“It was robust to lose within the semifinals, however we confirmed nice willpower, and we had been capable of take the sphere immediately with our profitable mentality and our willpower.
“We’re used to enjoying in huge video games, and immediately we left all disappointments behind and had been capable of win.”
It was a cagey first half from either side; neither created an enormous quantity of probabilities nor examined the goalkeepers sufficient. The preliminary transient introduction of Jefinho gave Brazil some impetus, he helped get them up the pitch together with his beautiful shut management, however they couldn’t discover a breakthrough.
Colombia may have taken a lead proper on the stroke of half time, however Juan Perez Quintero’s shot whistled extensive of the goal, a lot to their frustration.
The second half was extra open, and either side traded probabilities. At one finish, Nonato went shut for Brazil, earlier than Jhon Gonzalez Hernandez compelled a robust save from the Brazil goalkeeper.
Ricardinho, who missed the essential penalty within the semifinals, was seldom a passenger, forcing Brazil ahead and conserving them in management as the sport wore on.
Not for the primary time, Jefinho stepped up when Brazil wanted him most. Although he missed out on a fifth gold medal, his highly effective strike into the underside nook secured bronze.
Jefinho and Nonato each didn’t convert from shut vary to verify for Brazil, earlier than Perez Quintero couldn’t join from the angle for Colombia on the different finish. In the end, Brazil held on to proceed their document of profitable a medal at each Paralympic Video games.
By Harry De Cosemo for the IPC
