SYDNEY — When football “boots” cost $30,000 and your luggage is measured in tonnes, not kilograms, packing up to travel across the world for a tournament is no mean feat.
However, as France departed Sydney Airport for the long flight home, the national team added one more valuable piece of excess baggage to their haul: The 2023 FIPFA Powerchair World Cup trophy.
Dominating the group stage, Les Bleus conceded just two goals and converted a whopping 45 at the other end, to quite literally power through to meet England in the World Cup final at the Quaycentre in Sydney.
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The final was a robust tussle that saw France take the lead on 28 minutes before England equalised shortly after. Still locked at 1-1 after extra time, French attacker Mohamed Ghelami went on the defensive, switching to goalkeeper ahead of the inevitable penalty shootout. This proved to be a…
