He is the commercial director of a pharmaceutical company, but when he gets home he takes his table football every day. He practices and practices. Carlos Arceo (1980, Guadalajara) has been a four-time Spanish champion. Both in doubles and singles and he will be representing Spain in the next World Cup in a game that fights to be a sport.
Which countries are the strongest in table football?
Germany, the United States, Belgium and France.
And not Spain? If we have invented it here.
Yes, but we don’t have strong results because here it is considered a game, while in the rest of the countries it is already a sport. Here there are no subsidies or aid and it is more difficult that way.
But there are many practitioners here, right?
Yes, but on the two-legged table football. In the professional game, which is played in the rest of the world, the two legs are together. And here there are very few people who play like this.
Should foosball be an Olympic sport?
They are fighting for it. For this, it must first be a sport in Spain. It’s actually a bit like ping-pong, but of course, it’s practiced by millions in China alone.
How many times have you been champion of Spain?
Four. Sometimes in doubles and other times in singles. In the championship a fortnight ago I was runner-up in doubles and champion in singles.
Were it was made?
In Carabaña, a town in Madrid. It has been a great championship. It is the first time that foosball left the bars. It was done in a pavilion and with kits.
Who is your partner in doubles?
Francis Martinez. A machine. He has the best left hand in Spain and that is one of the keys to being good at table football. I like to play behind, although there are timeouts and we can change positions.
How did you do in the world championships?
I have been to several. My best results have been sixteenth in one and thirty-two in another.
Has Spain disappointed you in the World Cup in Qatar?
Yes a lot. The game has been soporific and it’s Luis Enrique’s fault. It can’t be that they don’t finish off on goal, that they take a corner and end up in midfield…
What has gone wrong?
I think they have lacked grit and intensity. And that is a matter of the coach who has not been able to transmit enough to the players.
Who wants to win the world cup?
Argentina, so that Messi cycle closes.
