Last February, the French water polo team had a breathtaking performance, failing only to reach the final of the World Championships during the penalty shootout against Croatia in the semi-final. This historic result in a World Cup (4th) obviously gives confidence to the Blues before the Paris Olympic Games where they will have the status of outsiders.
The Tricolores will play their first 4 group matches in the Olympic Aquatic Center in Saint-Denis which is hosting a France – United States women’s friendly match, this Monday evening, then the Final Four of the French Championship (with Marseille, Pays d’Aix , Noisy-le-Sec and Strasbourg) as a test event.
National coach Florian Bruzzo will be attentive to a competition in which almost all of the players on the France team are participating.
How is this Final Four at the Olympic Aquatic Center an important event for you and your players?
FLORIAN BRUZZO. We had to organize this test event with the international federation with a match for the French team. I considered it inappropriate and disrespectful towards the clubs to organize an international match without stakes between championship and Champions League matches. We therefore made arrangements with the international federation to organize the final phases of our championship in Olympic conditions. It’s good that the clubs are participating and that the athletes already have experience of this aquatic center in an official match, in a medal match. Apart from those who play in Tourcoing, all the players from the French team will be present over these two days.
Is this really a big plus?
Of course ! The players will train in the Olympic pool. They will know the route, the locker rooms, the environment… When they arrive to play an Olympic match, they will not be surprised. Visual cues, with cages and light, as well as noises are really important. For example, I plan to do training with noise so that they are used to all the environmental conditions around the match. We’re going to get a lot of information over these three days.
“We will be very competitive at the Olympics”
Are any players going to play big in this competition?
Honestly, no. I’ve been working with the guys for 3 years. The group was formed. A poor performance will not necessarily eliminate a player from the French selection. I already have an idea of the group I’m going to take. What will change are the injuries. Or a player who performs in a dazzling competition and wins his ticket. But it is very rare.
At less than 3 months, we have the impression that the lights are green…
I’m not superstitious but, today, there are no major obstacles for the French team to perform well. If we are spared from major injuries and the entire team, staff and players, progresses by 10 to 15% on all levels during this preparation, we will be very competitive at the Olympics. We are obviously aiming for a medal in 3 months.
Is it a source of pride to have brought the French team to the best place in its history at the Worlds?
No. It’s the satisfaction of doing what you wanted to do. Having played a semi-final gives us an experience that will count next summer to be more ambitious. It was the right time to experience this. This performance strengthened mutual trust between the players and the staff.
The list announced on July 7
The path that should lead the Blues from water polo to the Olympics is well marked. “I will reveal a first list of 15 players on May 9 without the Marseillais, who are still competing in the Champions League,” explains Bruzzo. We will leave for a first course in Abbeville on May 13 before a second in Le Cannet at the end of May. At that point, there will have been a first skimming plus the incorporation of 8 or 10 Marseillais, so there will be 20 in total before returning to Insep on June 11. Then, I will announce the selection of 13 players for the Olympics at the last moment, on July 7. But, our first match will take place on July 28. A lot can happen. We therefore want to keep 16 players between 7 and 26. It is important to carefully select the profiles of the people to whom you are going to ask this. You are going to announce to 3 players that they will not participate in the Olympics – a shock for them – and also tell them that we must count on them and that they must remain motivated and invested to be able to replace an injured person. »
