After two years without playing an international tournament, From the Birmingham World Cup in 2023, The Spanish football team of the blind returns to the competition and does so with the ambition to return to our country to the top. For years, Spain was a power of this sport: two Paralympic bronzes (Athens 2004 and London 2012), Four world medals (2 silver and 2 bronzes) and 12 European (8 golds, 2 silver and 2 bronzes) They demonstrate it.
However, the disagreements between much of the workforce and the previous coaching staff after the Tokyo games resulted in a Ninth place in the European fishing of 2022, where Julián Martín premiered as a coach. He had only been in office. They descended from category and, for the first time in their history, Spain ran out of the ticket for Paralympic Games.
Blind soccer team training at Car.
The new coaching staff has had to rebuild the selection and cure wounds. Three years after the varapalo, A New Spain disputes, as of this Tuesday in Krakow (Poland), the European B with the very clear objective: “Ascend again to the European first division next year, return to a World Cup and, also, play again some games.” This is summarized by the brand to brand during the last concentration of the team in the CAR of Madrid before traveling to Poland. They have practically concentrated the last two months, with double daily session, to prepare the appointment. Spain debuts at 10:00 against Romania. On day 2 he plays against Poland (16:00), on the 4th in front of Kazakhstan and 5 against Kosovo. The goal is to play on the 6th the final.
Hours of Spain
“It has been difficult to keep the group in dynamics without international appointments,” says Martín. “We have recovered people who continue to maintain a good competitive level and there are also young players. The pieces have fit well, there is good atmosphere and we all want to return to Spain where it deserves, ”he adds.
That feeling moves the entire template. “I was not waiting for Julian's call, but I am delighted to help. Let's see if we can return to Spanish football where it should be. It hurts a lot because it cost us a lot to be a football reference, but You have to try to reverse the situation”, dice Antonio Martín Gaitán, known as 'Child' and who lives his third stage in the selection at 43.
Antonio Martín Gaitán, 'Niño', during a training.
The Malaga, who He debuted with the Blind Red in 1999, is the only Spanish who has been chosen by the UEFA best European blind player (2005). “The scoring smell is not lost nor the illusion. I will be fulfilled for what the myister of me needs. The goal is to re -enter the cycle to a possible classification for Los Angeles 2028. I hope this year serves so that young people continue to improve for when veterans do not be. I enjoy training and I will play each game as if it were the last one,” he promises with a smile.
The scoring smell is not lost nor the illusion, I will be stopped for what the myister of me needs
It also returns Adolfo Acostaanother of the veterans who made the selection great, and that debuted in it 24 years agos. Now has 44. “I come to help and I am happy that people who love this sport like me have the possibility of defending the colors of Spain. The winning motivation is still there, “he says.” If we do not manage to go up, until 2029 there would be no official competition and it would be a problem for young people because they would run out of a short -term goal and perhaps focus their career towards another sport, “he reflects.
Sergio Alamar tries to leave a partner during a training.
Young people like UNIT SÁNCHEZwhich has been playing football for only four years and played the Birmingham World Cup with 16 years. “It is a pride to represent our country and always give the maximum.We want to take this selection where it deserveswhich is at all, and reach the games, which is my dream, ”he says.
Despite being only 24 years old, Sergio Alamar has already been in two Paralympic quotes. On his return to the selection he assumes more gallons. “I am happy because Now I have more responsibilitybefore it was a kid and I was learning, this time I have to throw more from the team. I like to feel the pressure”, Says the Valencian, who recognizes that not having competed two years has been hard.“ It affected us a lot. When you like to compete in high performance, you miss the demand to do so with the best. And they miss the laughs in the concentrations. Now we have one of the best environments we have had in the costumes in a long time, ”he adds.
