Argentina made history on Sunday 25 March by defeating England on penalties in the final of the IBSA Blind Football World Grand Prix to lift the inaugural title at the Shinagawa Tennozu Park in Tokyo, Japan.

After a goalless draw at full-time, it was the American Champions Argentina who won the penalty shootout against England 2-0, with the penalties scored by Maximiliano Espinillo and Micolas Veliz.

“I’m very proud of the team. Even though we did not play the game that we were practising and working on in Buenos Aires, the players brought up their entire capacity, experience and attitude to score goals against very difficult European rival teams [over the course of the tournament],” said Argentina Head Coach Martin Demonte.

Watch Argentina 0 England 0 (Argentina win 2-0 on penalties) full match.

Turkey took home Bronze as they defeated Russia 1-0 through a sweet right-foot strike from Hasan Satay into the bottom left corner in the eleventh minute of the first half to add a second medal to Turkey’s trophy cabinet this month. Hosts Japan edged a 1-0 victory over France to finish 5th in the Grand Prix.

In addition to winning the Grand Prix, Argentina’s Padilla Froilan won the Most Valued Player whilst Maximiliano Espinillo won the Top Goal Scorer Award with four goals and their Goalkeeper Dario Lencina won the Best Goalkeeper Award. England’s Dan English won the Most Important Player Award and Turkey’s Hasan Satay was prized with the Tanaka Great Effort Award.

Picture Caption: Final results from the IBSA Blind Football Grand Prix 2018.

We would like to congratulate the Japan Blind Football Association on their superb hostage of the 2018 IBSA Blind Football Grand Prix and to all the referees who officiated in the competition. We look forward to IBSA Blind Football Grand Prix 2019!

Follow IBSA Blind Football on Facebook and Twitter for news on the development of Blind Football across the world.

Follow the Japan Blind Football Association on Facebook.

Caption: IBSA Blind Football World Grand Prix 2018 banner.