Italy Beat France 4-0 to End French Hopes at UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO 2027
France’s dream of a first UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO is over. On Saturday night in Laško, Slovenia, the fifth-ranked Italians produced a ruthless 4-0 win over France to finish second in elite-round Group 3 — and send the French home with nothing to show for their campaign.
France arrived at the Dvorana Tri Lilije with everything to play for. Their women’s national futsal programme is barely three years old, but after sweeping through the main round with three wins from three, they believed an upset was possible against higher-ranked opposition. Italy had other ideas.
How Italy sealed it
The Azzurre struck almost immediately. Just two minutes in, captain Ludovica Coppari unleashed a long-range effort that took a deflection off Brenda Bettioli and wrong-footed French goalkeeper Flavie Papin. Papin kept France in it with a string of fine saves, but the pressure told before half-time: Ana Sestari’s long ball sailed over Léa Wioland for Sara Boutimah to control and finish from close range in the 16th minute, and moments later Renata Adamatti pounced on a rebound after Papin blocked Erika Ferrara’s strike to make it 3-0 at the break.
Italy added a fourth after the restart to complete a statement win — one that confirmed the gap between a seasoned top-five side and a French project still finding its feet at this level.
What it means for the road to Croatia
Italy finish the elite round as Group 3 runners-up, but their job isn’t done. They must wait for Sunday’s Group 1 finale — where Portugal and Finland, both already assured of the top two spots, meet — to learn whether they qualify directly as one of the two best runners-up or face a two-legged play-off in November for the last finals spot. The FIFA futsal rankings underline why the Azzurre fancy their chances either way: this is a side built to compete with anyone.
France, meanwhile, finish third and are out — a harsh ending to a campaign that promised so much after the main round. They’re not the only big name to fall: 2023 runners-up Ukraine missed out on the finals for the first time after Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Poland, who topped Group 4 to qualify for the first time ever. Sweden are assured of a debut finals appearance as one of the two best runners-up, Hungary won Group 2, and holders Spain booked their place earlier in the week with a game to spare.
Eight teams will contest the expanded finals in Croatia next March. Italy know they’re close — now they need Sunday to be kind.
