More than 3,000 spectators celebrated Germany’s surprising 3-2 victory against Spain in the Frankestolz Arena pavilion. And it marked a historic defeat for the Spanish team in the first encounter between both teams in any male or female category. It is noteworthy that the German Futsal National-Mannschaft was established just over eight years ago. It has not yet participated in any major UEFA or FIFA tournament.
The match’s standout performer was goalkeeper Weigels, who had to replace the starting goalkeeper Pless after just five minutes. His saves impeded Spain’s thick attacking plays and kept them trailing on the scoreboard. Captain Wittig, scoring twice, and Oliveira secured the victory for the squad led by Marcel Loosveld, a world runner-up in 1989 as a player for the Netherlands. Despite Captain Raúl Campos equalizing and César narrowing the gap, they couldn’t prevent the embarrassing defeat.
While the match was a friendly, the failure of the Spanish team (ranked 2nd globally compared to Germany’s 55th) in Aschaffenburg highlights various aspects that have transformed the Spanish National Team into a true mystery.
Far from its usual powerhouse status. The duel against Germany was Spain’s first in 2024, marking the return of Fede Vidal to the bench after a five-month medical leave due to a serious illness. Their last game was almost ten months ago, resulting in a loss against Brazil (4-5) on April 17, 2023.
The RFEF announced Fede Vidal’s health issues on September 9. In his absence, Spain secured qualification for the World Cup in Uzbekistan, scheduled from September 14 to October 6, under interim coach Albert Canillas, who achieved remarkable results. Despite these successes in lower categories and women’s competitions, the senior team has faced disappointments since winning its last title, a European title in 2016. The RFEF has designed a calendar filled with international commitments, attempting to revive the team’s fortunes.
Spain, currently fourth in the 2021 World Cup, has not reached a World Championship final since 2012 and hasn’t been the champion for 20 years. The eyes are now on Uzbekistan to end this two-decade drought. But the RFEF has been preparing for a technical replacement for more than a year, with Jesús Velasco expected to take over.
In the midst of negotiations and uncertainties, Fede Vidal and his coaching staff remain focused on their responsibilities, even with the rumors and speculation surrounding their future. The Spanish National Team faces a challenging situation, with internal conflicts and political maneuvering overshadowing the preparation for the upcoming World Cup.
