The Spanish national futsal team settled for a 2-2 draw against France in another lackluster World Cup warm-up match. This was the fourth match arranged by coach Fede Vidal, and possibly the most critical, yet it only served to deepen doubts surrounding the team. Spain narrowly avoided defeat thanks to a crucial last-second save by Jesús Herrero, following Antonio Pérez’s missed double penalty that could have sealed a win. France, under Raphaël Reynaud, will be making their FIFA World Cup debut and are expected to be one of the tournament’s surprise teams. Boasting a strong blend of skill and physicality.
Notable players include Barcelona’s Mamadou Touré and the formidable Souheil Mouhoudine, who recently joined Jimbee Cartagena. France’s rise in futsal has seen them climb from 21st to 10th in FIFA’s rankings. Bolstered by a recent 3-1 victory over World Cup hosts Uzbekistan and an earlier historic 3-2 win against Brazil in April. This draw further strengthens France’s position as a potential World Cup dark horse.
In contrast, Spain is dealing with several setbacks. Captain Raúl Campos missed his second consecutive game due to a knee injury, and Sergio Lozano, who has only played one of the four warm-up matches, was sidelined by an infected wound. While Fede Vidal hopes Lozano will be fit for the match against Costa Rica, the Móstoles forward remains a doubt. Spain’s performance in the match left much to be desired, with key players like Cortés, Catela, and Cease still struggling to make an impact. Javi Mínguez was a surprising inclusion in the squad, while Jesús Gordillo proved his worth as a pivot against tougher opposition, scoring the opening goal by deflecting Antonio Pérez’s shot four minutes before halftime.
France rising
However, France’s Abdessamad Mohammed, their top scorer with 76 goals in 103 appearances, equalized in the second half following a defensive lapse. Raúl Gómez briefly restored Spain’s lead with a stunning goal. But France equalized again in the final minute, with Belhaj marking his birthday by extending France’s unbeaten streak to 15 games (10 wins, 5 draws) over the past year. After two wins against Morocco and Hungary, a loss to Morocco, and this draw, Spain continues to struggle as they prepare for their World Cup opener against Kazakhstan on September 15. Meanwhile, speculation grows about Jesús Velasco’s potential future involvement with the national team. As whispers from the sidelines hint at possible changes within the coaching staff.
