Paris 2024: Argentina advance to blind football final, denying Brazil sixth gold

Argentina advanced to the final of the blind football tournament at the Paris 2024 Paralympics after defeating five-time Paralympic champions Brazil on penalties. Brazil has won gold at every Games since the sport was introduced in 2004, but their hopes for a sixth gold medal were dashed after suffering a 4-3 loss on penalties after two scoreless halves. 

After a guide banged on the goalpost to signify where the net was, Osvaldo Fernandez calmly scored the winning kick at the Eiffel Tower Stadium. The 26-year-old Paralympic debutant pumped his fist and joined his teammates to celebrate on the pitch. 

“It’s a dream for every kid from Argentina. It’s something beautiful, a unique feeling. When I started my career, my teammates tried and fought a lot against Brazil, and I got to join the team at the best moment,” Fernandez said. 

“When I took that ball to hit the penalty, it felt like it weighed a thousand kilos. The tension was incredible, I hit it and I didn’t know if it went in or not. When I realised it did, I felt great relief more than anything.” 

Argentina will face hosts France in Saturday’s final at the Eiffel Tower Stadium – the same matchup as the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which Argentina won. Argentina will compete in the final for the third time, most recently taking silver at Tokyo 2020. 

A dream 

With the penalty shootout tied at 3-3, there were many things going through Fernandez's mind. As he prepared in silence, he thought about his journey in the sport, his family and his recent bout with cancer. 

“When I was walking to the ball, I was thinking about my dad, my nephew, my family and the cancer that I just overcame two years ago. The chemo – everything. I thought about everything. That’s why I started crying when we won,” he said.  

“I saw death in front of me and overcame that. Being here is a dream, and I’m trying to enjoy it.” 

The match finished after Brazil’s Ricardo Steinmetz Alves missed his penalty. The five-time champions will face Paralympic debutants Colombia in the bronze medal match. 

“This one really hurts. We had a few chances late in the game, and I couldn’t convert after a free kick. These games are always decided on little details. Argentina are a very strong team,” Brazil’s Ricardo Steinmetz Alves said. 

“I missed my penalty and it really hurts. I think this is the story for many great players that, at some point in their careers, they miss a crucial penalty. And today it was my time to suffer that fate.” 

The Argentinian team formed a circle on the pitch and congratulated each other. They talked especially about veteran player Froilan Padilla, who is set to retire after these Games. 

“Today my little ones as I call my teammates made me really happy. They never stopped running. They left everything on the pitch. They always tell me I yell too much, I can’t stop talking from defense and it’s true,” he said with a smile. 

With a day to prepare for the biggest match of their lives, Argentina expect a tough competition from France, the reigning European champions, who will have the crowd supporting them. 

“We know that we’ll have all the crowd against us, but we are going to try to enjoy the match. Knowing that all the people will be against us, France and Argentina like the World Cup final, we hope it will be like that (match) in a sense that it’s going to be for us.”   

Battle for gold  

Earlier in the day, Frederic Villeroux scored with less than five minutes left in the first semifinal match to lift France to a 1-0 win over Colombia. It is the second time France has advanced to the finals of the eight-team tournament.  

“Colombia are a great team. They are very fast and they are having a great tournament. It was a close game, and I'm very happy it was us who won it,” Villeroux said.

"We set our initial goal of getting to the semifinals. Now we have surpassed that, and we want to keep going.”  

The match started in wet conditions, but as it progressed it stopped raining, and the crowd got bigger and louder. Fans cheered for the players, waved flags and sang French songs when the ball was out of play.  

In blind football, spectators need to remain silent while the ball is in play. The ball contains bells inside that make a sound and athletes play while wearing eyeshades.  

During the Paralympics, the sport has also gained new fans. 

“The match was incredible. It was my first time and I loved it. I didn’t know that the sport existed – it was my first time but I want to see other games,” said a 27-year-old French fan, who explained how she fell in love with the sport.   

“The venue was at the base of the Eiffel Tower. I liked everything - how the players are communicating all the time during the game, and there was a bond between all the players. There was a good feeling.” 

Colombia beat Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists Morocco 1-0 on 3 September to book a spot in the semifinals.  While they lost to the hosts, Colombia’s Lino Nicolas Coca Castro was confident that the team will become a blind football powerhouse and top the podium one day.   

“I’m very grateful to the team because Colombia will be in a lot more Paralympics from here,” he said. “I’m sure that we will be Paralympic champions the next time.”