- Who has claimed the 7-a-side football Paralympic crown?
- 2008:
UKR - 2004:UKR
- 2000:
RUS - 1996:
NED
The Athletes
Will Smith doppelganger Alistair Heselton claims he has the worst singing voice in the world. Thankfully for GB's CP football team, he's pitch-perfect on the 7-a-side field...
Say hello to Martin Sinclair, the England CP footballer who just loves gotting one over on his Premier League star brother
Defender and ex-captain Matt Dimbylow steers his team to success with his sharp footwork and plenty of pitch experience
How it works: Football 7-a-side
A modified version of standard FIFA rules apply, the pitch is smaller and matches consist of two 30-minute halves with 15 minutes for half-time. Golden Goal and penalties apply in play-off rounds.
What you need to know
Cerebral palsy football has been in international competition since 1978 and joined the summer Paralympics schedule at the 1984 Games in New York.
Players are classified depending on the severity of their symptoms to ensure teams represent all kinds of abilities.
The classification of teams led to international outcry and a press rampage in the Beijing Paralympic Games when finalists Russia were accused by rival teams of fielding too many able-bodied players.
There was tumult in the 2008 Games when Irish footballer Derek Malone was banned from playing after Paralympic classifiers told him his disability was too minor to qualify! Malone has since been reinstated.
At least 22 countries have taken part in Paralympic seven-a-side football at an international level, including Brazil, China and Iran - all of whom rock at the event.
What to say: Football 7-a-side
"For technique and skill on the ball, the smart money's on the Russians - they've got a lot to prove after Beijing."
Who's good: Football 7-a-side
Ukraine might be the current Paralympic champions, but for a decade, 7-a-side was dominated by the Netherlands, and their victory in the 2010 BT Paralympic World Cup tournament in Manchester shows they're going for gold.
Inside stories
Footballers added to ParalympicsGB team
Five and seven-a-side squads named for London 2012
How to take a penalty
The GB 7-a-side football team laugh in the face of sudden-death shoot-outs
Video
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