Marc Tolrà (Barcelona, 30 years old) is facing one of the most special moments in a footballer’s career: debut in a World Cup. The Levante player will do it in Lithuania (September 12 to October 3), setting where Argentina will try to defend the title conquered five years ago against futsal powers such as Brazil, Portugal or Spain itself. The time to wear the national elastic will come a year later than planned, since the championship was delayed due to the pandemic, But the wait has only increased the good preparation and enthusiasm of some players who represent a new cycle in the National Team.
“We arrived very well physically, even the teammates who did not make it to the playoffs in the League or other competitions. That shows the commitment that there is with this Selection and, above all, the enthusiasm to do a good job. There is a generational change, with a very united group. We are aware of how much it costs to play a World Cup and we are never going to throw in the towel. The lack of experience is complemented by that illusion and that desire to achieve something very great “Tolrà tells AS in a telephone conversation a few days after traveling to Lithuania.
With that motivation, there is no doubt that the only objective for the boys of Fede Vidal is to win the World Cup, which would put an end to a drought in this competition that has lasted since 2004, when Spain won their second and last world title to date in Taiwan. “Despite the youth and little experience of some, it is not worth us to have come this far. The shield bears two stars because it has maintained a rigor and a requirement over the years, something we want to give continuity to. Our mentality has to be to continue making history for this team and for Spain. I want my work to be reflected with another star on the shield. We are only focused on winning the World Cup “, ensures the closure of Levante and the Spanish team.
And what rivals will Tolrà and his teammates have on their way to success? Beyond Japan, Angola and Paraguay, teams they will face in the group stage, Tolrà does not hesitate to point to Brazil, historic dominators of the sport with five world titles, Argentina (tie with Spain in the preparation duel) and other blocks of emerging talent capable of surprising anyone, such as Russia, Uzbekistan or Iran: “The greatness of futsal is that it is not very predictable. The last European was won by Portugal and we have seen that in the last friendlies they fell with Uzbekistan (Spain only beat them 1-0). Russia is always there with options to win, Iran too … And I would like to highlight the level of teams that never count on them as favorites, such as Japan. Anyone can mess it up, even though I have to tell the viewer to look at players like Dyego or Ferrao, that ensure show. I also recommend following teams like Angola, who have ‘lollipop’ players who do not have pressure and who do a bit of ‘FIFA street’.
Dangerous precedent
The other ‘rival’ that the National Team will have to deal with will be the COVID-19, that invisible enemy that already left a dangerous precedent in the past Euro football, with an outbreak of infections that reduced the preparation of Luis Enrique’s boys a few days before the competition. “We have it in mind. It worries because the World Cup has already been postponed a year and because in the situation we are in it is difficult for events of this type to be held. Here In the National Team there is a very clear protocol, which makes things difficult in terms of mobility in the two months that we have been concentrating. It is not easy for the head, but any slip or positive that appears there can leave you without a World Cup “, declares Tolrà. All that remains is for the ball to roll over the 40×20 …
