Football for the blind: Brazil wins French Grand Prix, 3rd title of the year

Blind soccer in Brazil lifted the French Grand Prix cup last Saturday (1st), by defeating England, on penalties, by 2-0. The title is the third for the men’s team (adult and youth) this season and signals that the country will arrive with everything in the World Cup, in Birmingham (England), in August. Five-time world champion, the team will seek the sixth and classification for the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 – the first three places will guarantee a place. IT’S CHAMPION! 🏆Brazil 🇧🇷 beats 🇬🇧 England on penalties and wins the French Grand Prix! Brazil, commanded by coach Júlio César Macena, had players from the Under-23 team, which won the Youth Parapan in Bogotá (Colombia), in May. Among them, Lucas Caetano and Maicon, who converted the kicks for Brazil, after a goalless draw with the English in normal time. Gean Patrick, Paulo Ryan, Alefe, Kauan, Marco Antônio, Paulo Vitor, Raynã and Samir also entered the field. “This conquest represents a fresh start after returning from an injury. It was very important to gain confidence and show the strength of Brazil that, even with an under-23 team, faced head-on against teams that are preparing to compete in the World Cup”, he analyzed winger Lucas Caetano, 21 years old, who returned to the selection after 11 and a half months recovering from injury to the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. Last May, the team was undefeated for the second time at the International Grand Prix, in São Paulo, a competition organized for the first time in the country by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA). With an eye on Paris 2024 Brazil is the only five-time Paralympic champion: they have won consecutive gold medals since the Athens Games (2004). The sport was called five-a-side football until the Tokyo Games. Only eight teams will compete at the Paralympics, and four of them are already guaranteed a presence: France, Turkey, Morocco and China. In addition to the World Cup in Birmingham (England), the other qualifying competition for Paris 2024 will be the Parapan American Games, in November, in Santiago (Chile). To confirm its place, Brazil will have to be among the top three in the World Cup or win the Parapan.


Agência Brasil