The minivan with Corinne Deacon and Wendie Renard on board left Champneys Springs base camp at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. French time), as soon as training was over. An hour and a half later, the coach and the captain arrived at New York Stadium in Rotherham on the eve of the match against Belgium (9 p.m., TF1, Canal +). For their part, the 22 other players took the direction of a hotel in Rotherham for a night there. Corinne Deacon was able to come back to the context of this second meeting, four days after the victory against Italy (5-1).
After scoring five goals against Italy aren’t you worried that your opponents will be more wary of you and will make an even lower block that’s hard to get around?
CORINNE DEACON. We expect everything. We worked on several things and we’ve been working on them for a while since in a few qualifying matches for the World Cup we came up against this kind of team. We were able to respond at that time. So if it’s going to happen tomorrow, we’ll find the answers.
Why is it important to obtain the qualification for the quarters from the second game?
It does not change anything. We will wait for the result of Italy – Iceland, but this second match may not give us first place. So in any case we will not have finished our three-game mini-championship.
What is the importance of Marie Katoto in pivot and of the long game, of Wendie Renard in particular, to launch your wingers?
(Sigh) We talk a lot about individuals on your questions… The France team is a collective. Indeed our group is made of talents. Now there has to be a good osmosis between all of them for the France team to perform. We have talent. Wendie doesn’t just play long. She has a short game and above all she is a very good defender, even the best in the world today. So that’s mostly what I’m asking him. And Marie, today, she proves that she is at the top level. But she has to continue a little longer, that would be good.
What is your view on the river scores of certain matches like England’s 8-0 against Norway?
I actually watched the games. The problem is that when you concede a goal quickly, you end up being able to lose your footing afterwards. I think Norway has suffered a rout that we do not wish on anyone.
What did you tell your players to avoid overconfidence before Thursday’s match?
I didn’t need to talk a lot because on their own, after the match against Italy already, they were focused on their recovery and on the projection of the match tomorrow. We were together in the preparation. And we are together on this competition. We talk about osmosis between the old and the young. And very sincerely I think we can also say that there is an osmosis between the players and the staff because we did not even have to say it, quite simply.
You didn’t say anything?
I hardly needed to speak, the girls were already recovering when I entered the locker room. Just by seeing that, I knew they were already focused on the next match. Sometimes there is not even a need to communicate, the girls know what they have to do. We know what our goal is.
Against Belgium do you plan to rotate the squad or do you want to set up a standard team?
Because for you the one I bet against Italy was not typical?
Precisely is the idea to extend it to offer him a seat?
Everything is possible. I didn’t have time to chat with my assistants since we left just after the day’s session. We still have a night of reflection before announcing to the players who will start tomorrow’s match. In any case, I can count on my 23 players and that’s important.
How did Griedge Mbock experience his non-establishment in central defense against Italy and have you spoken to him since?
I speak with all the players. Afterwards there are only eleven holders so there are eleven who start and twelve who wait. In any case the twelve who wait have the same state of mind as the girls who start because we can need everyone, especially throughout the duration of the competition.
Do things need to be improved and what do you want to see again against Belgium?
What I want to see above all are goals. Nothing bothered me. We pointed out two or three little things but the state of mind is there. From the moment the girls fight, you can’t be disappointed. The objective is above all to redo, and this is the most difficult, the same performance tomorrow (Thursday).
Is playing on July 14 special?
We think about it, of course. Now we mustn’t get the wrong objective either. We have a game to play and win. Now, if I may use the expression, I hope tomorrow’s game will be the fireworks of our national holiday…
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