The French team comes in the running at the Women’s Euro against England, reigning champion, this Saturday (9 p.m.). A year after the disappointment of the Olympic Games and the beginning of a new cycle, can the Bleues finally taste the drunkenness of a trophy?
Football, rugby, handball and basketball. Four sports, eight French teams and a villain little duckling. The blue of football has heard the same catchphrase for a very long time: when is a major trophy? The main interested parties do not ignore it, the coronations in France tournament (2020, 2022, 2023) or in Shebelieves Cup (2017) have no value that a triumph at Euro 2025, for example, would have an adventure which has the starting point a perilous duel against England on Saturday (9 p.m.).
“Our goal is to go to the end, to give everything to get a trophy”brandished Laurent Bonadei to Figaro . The coach tempered, however: “We position ourselves as outsider since we have never won anything yet, so we cannot be considered favorite. Especially in a group where we have the last two winners of the Euro, a very very difficult group. ”
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Eight a sequel victories, series in progress
France has not been vary in the draw. Seeded thanks to her good qualifications in the playoffs, she inherited champions of English and the Netherlands, 11th nation in the FIFA ranking behind … France. The Bleues cannot really boom the torso, they who have never tasted a Euro final or World Cup under Corinne Diacre (2017-2023) and who have not exceeded quarters at the 2023 World Cup and the Paris Olympics, despite the poker blow Hervé Renard.
So much for the half -empty glass. Because there are also reasons of hope, dreams. The blue attacks the euro after eight victories in a row. A 6/6 in the League of Nations followed by a demonstration against Belgium (5-0) and a rise in pain against Brazil, 4th world nation (3-2). “We have acquired a lot of experience and confidence. We have to show that we will not be an easy -to -maneuver team, but we should not be burned by the results and stay in this position with humility, work ”ultimacial bonusia.
On paper, the Bleues are not lacking in assets. Starting with the richness of her attack, where she can offer explosiveness (Diani, Cascarino, Malard), finish (Katoto, Baltimore) or technical subtlety (Mateo). With working environments (TOLETTI, Geyoro …) and experience in all positions, France will above all have to monitor its defensive management of spaces, undermined by Brazil, so as not to overload Peyraud-Magnin, certainly decisive in the face of the Seleção and arrival at maturity as dean of the group (33 years).
We are keen to get one, because it will forever remain the first of the French women’s team.
Elisa de Almeida, player of the French team
The positive is also to be found in the misfortune of others. England saw its emblematic goalkeeper Mary Earps, which has become a replacement, to retire international a month ago, to everyone’s surprise. Defender Millie Bright, exhausted by a long season with Chelsea, gave up the Euro. The Englishmen were dominated by Spain in early June (2-1) while the Netherlands were slapped by Germany (4-0).
Depending on its result on Saturday, France can either open up the way to the quarters, or see a “final” against the Dutch on June 13. The match against Wales (June 9), a little thumb of the euro, should be a formality. Bonadei, who praised the “character” From his flocks after the victory over Brazil, will be able to play the card of this empty trophy cabinet to motivate them.
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“We are keen to go get one, because it will remain forever the first of the French women’s team”confided to us the defender Elisa de Almeida. The time is not in an emergency. Bonadei, quick to recall that he signed for three years, until the 2027 World Cup, justified the non-selections of Wendie Renard and Eugénie Le Sommer on behalf of “The future” of the French team.
Some players, already precious (Bacha, Baltimore, Malard …) or brought to being (Samura, Sombath …), are not over 25 years old, and only Majri and Peyraud-Magnin have exceeded 30 years. Slowly but surely, the pawns are placed to try to offer French women’s football a corner of blue sky.
