Report: England Blind Men 0-1 Germany

England Blind Men endured a narrow 1-0 defeat to an impressive Germany side in their opening match of the 2023 IBSA World Championship.

The Para Lions’ Blind men’s and women’s sides, plus the men’s Partially-Sighted team, will all be competing in their respective World Championships at the 2023 IBSA World Games in Birmingham.

England Blind Men have been set the task of medalling in Birmingham, with this the final qualification opportunity for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and only three teams able to qualify, alongside the five countries who have already booked their spots.

This contest was a repeat of the third-place play-off at last year’s IBSA EURO, which England won following a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

It was Germany who created the better chances in the first half but on each occasion they were met by goalkeeper Dylan Malpas, who reached 100 senior appearances for the Para Lions in June.

The best of those chances came from Germany’s Taime Ruttig shortly before half-time, as he dribbled from deep and struck a right-footed shot, which was well saved by Malpas.

England’s Roy Turnham showed what he was capable of with a trademark mazy dribble midway through the first half but just as he was about to strike, Germany captain Hasan Altunbas made a brilliant last-ditch tackle.

It was Germany who would take the lead though just over a minute into the second half, as a scooped corner couldn’t be cleared by Turnham and the dangerous Ruttig thumped the ball through the legs of Malpas.

England continued to search for a way back into the game but were up against an impressive German defence.

The Para Lions almost pulled level twice in quick succession though as they really piled on the pressure in the final five minutes.

First, Dan English dribbled past several defenders before his shot was deflected onto the bar by goalkeeper Sebastian Themel.

Then Efe Shimwell almost scored from the resulting corner as Brandon Coleman crossed and he was just about to pull the trigger when another last-ditch tackle saved Germany once more.

In the end, England had to settle for a 1-0 defeat and will now be looking to bounce back against Argentina on Thursday (kick-off 4.30pm).

England’s matches at the IBSA World Games will be shown on IBSA’s YouTube channel and match reports from the Para Lions’ games can be read at EnglandFootball.com.

England: 1 Dylan Malpas, 3 Owen Bainbridge ©, 5 Dan English, 7 Brandon Coleman, 9 Roy Turnham

Substitutes: 8 Efe Shimwell for English 9, 10 Eesa Amjid for Shimwell 15, 8 Shimwell for Amjid 21, 7 Coleman for Turnham 24, 9 Turnham for Coleman 27

Substitutes not used: 13 Sam Marsden, 4 Azeem Amir

Germany: 1 Sebastian Themel, 2 Jonathan Toensing, 5 Rasmus Narjes, 6 Hasan Altunbas ©, 7 Taime Ruttig

Substitutes: 10 Alexander Fangmann for Ruttig, 7 Ruttig for Fangmann 11, 10 Fangmann for Ruttig 21, 9 Alican Pehtas for Toensing 23, 7 Ruttig for Fangmann 25, 2 Toensing for Pehtas 26