France’s Euro 2026 Futsal Journey Ends in Heartbreaking Third-Place Loss to Croatia

France's futsal team experienced a dramatic and emotional conclusion to their Euro 2026 campaign after falling short in both the semi-final and the bronze medal match. In their first-ever Euro futsal semi-final, Les Bleus faced a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of Portugal, the defending champions. Despite the setback, France entered the third-place playoff with renewed determination, bolstered by the return of Abdessamad Mohammed from suspension.

The bronze medal match against Croatia unfolded as a rollercoaster encounter in Ljubljana. France struck first with Nicolas Menendez scoring early in the 4th minute. However, Croatia quickly responded, taking a 3-1 lead by the 21st minute with goals from Josip Jurlina and Franko Jelovcic. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, France mounted a fantastic comeback led by Ouassini Guirio’s spectacular hat-trick, netting three goals at the 22nd, 32nd, and 38th minutes. The French captain, Souheil Mouhoudine, then scored with just seven seconds remaining, leveling the score at 5-5 and forcing the match into a tense penalty shootout.

The shootout was closely contested, with both teams converting their initial penalties until Mamadou Touré missed the crucial final spot-kick for France, handing Croatia a 6-5 shootout victory. This heartbreaking miss sealed France’s fate, leaving them just off the podium despite a sensational comeback.

As a result, France leaves Euro 2026 without a medal. Meanwhile, Portugal and Spain will contest the final to crown the futsal champions of Europe. Despite the narrow loss, France’s performance, especially their fighting spirit in the third-place match, showcased their growing stature in European futsal.