“It has been one of those transforming experiences. We went with enthusiasm, we return proud”. These words from Natalia García, coach of the VCF Femenino bB epitomise the feeling of the presence of the two teams of the VCF Academy that have participated in recent days in the FIFA Youth Cup / Blue Stars where they have shown their competitive level by reaching the semifinals in the women's team and finishing fifth and unbeaten in the men's team.

A great international experience, not only because of what was experienced on the field of play, but also because of the opportunity to live with many other boys and girls under 20 years of age who came from various countries who dream of reaching professional football and also because of the opportunity to do it at the world headquarters of football, at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich.

FIFA museum and legends

As soon as you landed in Switzerland, you could already see that this FIFA Youth Cup is not just another tournament of the many in which the VCF Academy players participate throughout their training process. Upon arrival, a very special visit awaited them: the FIFA football museum and the opportunity to see the World Cup from a few centimetres away.

There at the FIFA headquarters, in each corridor and in each room, a surprise awaited, such as the option of greeting a legend of the benches such as the Frenchman Arsene Wenger, 22 consecutive years coaching Arsenal FC, while the Academy Management VCF participated in sessions in which they were able to present the work methodology at the Ciutat Esportiva de Paterna that makes the VCF Academy one of the best in Europe in training elite players, according to the latest reports from the CIES Football Observatory.

 Semifinals and unbeaten

On the field of play, the VCF Academy teams showed their competitive level. The combination of VCF Women's B and C players advanced to the semi-finals after beating Wolsburg (2-0 / you can see the video HERE) and FC Basel (1-0) and Zurich (3-4) in the group stage, and losing at the gates of the final 2-0 against the team of Olympique de Lyon, current holders of the Women's Champions League.

The men's team (VCF Mestalla/VCF Juvenil A/VCF Juvenil B) finished the tournament in fifth position and without tasting defeat in the 4 games played. They drew 1-1 against FK Austria, FC Basel and Grasshopper to end up beating Benfica 1-0 in the clash for fifth and sixth place.