The French national blind football team secured their fourth European crown on Sunday, defeating England 1-0 in the final at Strasbourg. Captain Frédéric Villeroux scored the decisive goal in the first half to preserve the title for Les Bleus, adding continental gold to their victory at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Strasbourg Final Secured by Villeroux Strike
Playing in Strasbourg, the French squad relied on a familiar blueprint to break down a resilient English defense. Frédéric Villeroux provided the game’s sole breakthrough in the opening period, gathering the ball near the center circle, dribbling past multiple defenders, and beating the English goalkeeper with a sharp right-footed shot. At 43 years old, Villeroux finished the tournament with six goals, topping the competition’s scoring charts.
The low-scoring final stood in contrast to France’s earlier meeting with England in the group stage, where Les Bleus ran out 4-1 winners. Rather than chasing a high-tempo blowout, the French side dictated the pace of the match to neutralize English counter-attacking threats. “On a su temporiser, construire, proposer du foot,” Villeroux said after the match, explaining that the team focused on ball control and patience. “Ça explique pourquoi on a pris plus de plaisir que sur les autres matches.”
Defensive Resilience and Tactical Control
While Villeroux provided the finishing touch, France’s collective organization anchored the victory. Martin Baron anchored the left flank before suffering a heavy facial impact and a significant nosebleed just before halftime, which forced him to leave the match for substitute Khalifa Youme. In the center, defender Hakim Arezki anchored the backline alongside guidance from goalkeeper Alessandro Bartolomucci, limiting English scoring opportunities. Babacar Niang also tested the English defense on multiple occasions as France successfully defended their slim advantage until the final whistle.
Path to the European Crown
The victory in Strasbourg marks the second European Championship for France, cementing their fourth continental title overall. Les Bleus navigated the tournament with consistent form, recording group-stage wins over England, Greece, and Germany before edging Italy 1-0 in the semifinals. The performance underscores the squad’s depth following their gold-medal run at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where Villeroux also delivered the decisive moments for the national program.
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