From Dream to Final: Coach Hugo Da Silveira on France’s rise and what comes next

After guiding France to their first-ever major Socca final, head coach Hugo Da Silveira opens up about the emotions, the pride of representing his country, and what’s next for the national team. From the heartbreak of past tournaments to the magical run in this year’s EuroCup, Hugo shares a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s evolution and their vision for the World Cup.

For the first time, France reached a major final in Socca. How did that feel?

“I felt very proud, as you can imagine. After failing to reach the quarter-finals in the dying minutes in previous editions, we finally made it to the semi-finals — and then the final! It was a magical, emotional moment. I’m delighted that this group was able to experience it. We really deserved it.”

Why did you choose to become the head coach of the French national team in Socca?

“An opportunity came up and I gave it a go. I also speak several foreign languages, so communication is pretty easy. Ultimately, it’s a great source of pride to represent your country at any international tournament.”

What was the first thing you said to the team after the final?

“The first thing I said was: ‘I’m really proud of all of you and the effort you put in throughout the competition. You have represented France very well. With this spirit, we will one day be able to lift the cup.’”

“After that, I told them to smile for the photos — because you never know if one day you’ll be back in the final! We had to enjoy every moment as if it were our last. Not many teams have had the chance to reach the final in a major tournament, so we can be happy because we are now part of that elite group.”

How are you preparing for the upcoming Socca World Cup? Any surprise players joining this year?

“This is the best preparation we’ve had since we started. We’re planning to meet again in September for a weekend focused on training and building team cohesion. Then, we’ll be in Cancun at the end of November. As far as we know, there are no surprise additions to the squad yet — the group is quite full, but you never know…”

A final message from the coach:

“I want to thank everyone for the messages of support, encouragement, and love during the competition. I’ve received support from all over the world! Thank you to the International Socca Federation and Socca Moldova for this magnificent EuroCup. Congratulations to all the teams — and especially to Poland, who truly deserved the win. See you soon!”