Today begins the series of three matches of the French futsal team at the Ehrmann Stadium in Nice, counting for the preliminary round of Euro 2014. The goal: to finish 1st in the group and secure their ticket to Belgium.
The Blues are three games away from the Euro. Led by the only representative from the Côte d’Azur with his club Cannes – La Bocca, Moussa Sao is keen to lead his team to victory. Since 2011, the Blues have been under construction. Created in 1997, under the aegis of the FFF (French Football Federation), futsal has continually attracted the curious. Already present at its creation as an assistant coach and becoming head coach in 2004, Pierre Jacky is well-acquainted with the indoor soccer world and the stakes of such a qualification.
The French cannot miss such a golden opportunity, especially at home. Currently 45th in the FIFA futsal rankings, the French team should not have too much trouble against modest San Marino, far down the rankings, but also Gibraltar, who are participating for the first time and are not yet ranked. The Tricolor team might face a little more difficulty against Montenegro, ranked 66th and already opponents in the preliminary round of the 2012 World Cup in Macedonia, where the Blues won 4-3.
“In case of qualification, it will be very difficult to get through the main round in Italy,” said Claude Esposito, departmental technical advisor for the Côte d’Azur and goalkeeper coach. “France is behind in this discipline. It only played its first international match in 1997 while futsal has existed since 1930. We are an amateur nation, unlike the 10-15 best European nations which have a professional championship.”
The European Championships will begin on January 28 and end on February 8, 2014.
