In a previous article, we introduced you to the Rhône Sportif Football de Table team, the Villeurbanne table football club sponsored by Mister Babyfoot for the European Champions League. It's no surprise that we announced that the incredible team finished 5th in the competition, crowning weeks and weeks of preparation. But the road to this magnificent conclusion wasn't easy for the Villeurbanne team. To better convey the intensity of the tournament, we gathered the impressions of Maxime Blin, the team's most technical player. Discover this epic table football match, told by those who experienced it!
A look back at the 2014 ECL
The qualifying draw was held one week before the tournament. Our team, made up of almost 100% Bonzini players, is preparing for its first European experience.
A competition that promises to be demanding
So we find ourselves in a tough but manageable group:
- Hannover (Germany) and its many international stars;
- Liverpool (England), a "Garlando" team with experienced players;
- Goldach (Switzerland), whom we didn't know at all.
So, a group with a Leonhart team, two Garlando teams, and us with our Bonzini! In short, at this point, with the coach and team captain, we said to ourselves: we have work to do, but it's doable!Indeed, only the top 3 teams in each group qualify for the final stages.
A difficult start to the tournament
Thursday, October 16, 9:30 a.m.…
First match against Hannover, we lost 5 sets to 3… A difficult start to the tournament against the best team in the group. Sébastien and I were in singles and we did the same thing, winning on a Leonhart table football and losing on Bonzini! Unfortunately, one of our doubles players lost on both tables. We were close to tying against this formidable team.
Victory on Bonzini table football!
Thursday, October 16, 10:40 a.m....
Time for the second match against Liverpool, who had just been annihilated by Switzerland. We won the match 6 sets to 2, with both singles players (Sébastien and I) winning on both tables, and our doubles players did the job by winning the sets on our table, the Bonzini.
A slight disappointment that was only temporary
Thursday, October 16, 11:50 a.m.…
Decisive match to determine whether the Swiss or Villeurbanne will finish second in our group…
Unfortunately, I played a terrible match against them and lost on both tables…Infuriating!!! We lost 5 sets to 3 and finished 3rd in our group.
1st: Hanover
2nd: Goldach
3rd: Villeurbanne
4th: Liverpool
A great victory... without forcing it!
Thursday, October 16, 1:00 p.m.…
During the lunch break, we learned that we were playing in the Round of 16 against the Munich team, which was playing on the Leonhart table.
A match that we won 3 games to 0, without our last pair (Nico & Vincent) even playing their match! Sébastien, after a seemingly endless match point, won 2 sets to 0 and built a good momentum. Kevin & Noureddine won the Doubles 1 tiebreaker. At that point, I had the chance to close out the match. And after a close match, I secured victory for Villeurbanne and thus a ticket to the Quarterfinals.
A magical quarterfinal!
Thursday, October 16, 4:00 p.m.…
And what a quarterfinal! A 100% Bonzini, 100% French encounter against the competition favorites, the Evry team!
Unfortunately, they lost 3-0 against an opponent confident in their strengths. Sébastien lost 2 sets to 0 against his opponent, who was performing very well in this match.
Kévin & Noureddine also lost 2 sets to 0 against one of Bonzini's best pairs. Finally, for the last singles match, I lost in the tiebreaker against the man who will be considered by his teammates as the man of the tournament.
A great conclusion that crowns weeks of training
Thursday, October 16, 5:00 p.m.…
RSFT finishes 5th in this 2014 European Champions League!
Review of this 2014 European Champions League
Very proud of this team that fought until the end and also showed great quality on foreign tables. I really hope that the RSFT will have other opportunities to defend its colors and values during a future edition of the ECL!
At Mister Table football, we are also very proud of these eight Villeurbanne Spartans who are now among the eight best teams in Europe!
