Orleans (AFP)

The Blue's thirst for victories was not quenched by internal tensions, Friday in Orleans against North Macedonia (11-0), with an offensive festival that occurred despite the absence of coach Corinne Deacon, confined, and the turmoil caused by the non-convocation of Amandine Henry.

Against the 129th nation in the Fifa rankings, placed in the group of France for qualifying for Euro-2022, there was no need for a technician on the bench, or even a captain in the field, to win easily.

But this large victory, similar to that of the first leg last month (7-0), will have the merit of restoring balm to the heart of a selection torn in recent days by the disagreements arising from the choice of Deacon to do without Henry , one of its executives, according to "sporting criteria".

It was therefore the return of smiles at the Stade de la Source d'Orléans.

He was very wide on that of Elisa De Almeida, enthusiastic goalscorer and passer at 22, and a little more measured on that of Eugénie Le Sommer, author of her 83rd, 84th, 85th and 86th goals for the France team ( 5th, 21st, 73rd, 78th), improved record.

The evening captain had indeed a double mission which required concentration: to bring goals to his own, as usual, but also to instill serenity in this group tossed about for several days.

What she did throughout the meeting very seriously, haranguing her teammates and not hesitating to bring them together in the middle of the field at half-time, for a final motivating speech.

"We wanted things to happen on the pitch, we responded tonight even if everything is not perfect outside," said the attacker on W9.

- Fox and Majri deprived of lawn -

The faces were a little more closed on the side of the sidelines, where the Lyonnaises Amel Majri and especially Wendie Renard settled, left on the bench by their coach for the whole meeting.

Affected by the Covid-19 and absent from the gathering - even if she remained in permanent contact with her staff during the meeting - Deacon could not explain these surprising choices, even if Majri was returning from a recent injury .

It is difficult, in these conditions, to see a direct link with the astonished reactions of these two players, after learning of the non-summons of their teammate at OL, Henry.

Renard had indeed noted on Canal + a "bad atmosphere", while Majri had recognized "tensions" in an interview with AFP.

This had the merit of leaving the field open to other players, and they benefited greatly.

Valérie Gauvin, not used in September, thus scored the fastest goal in the history of the Bleues - according to the reference site in statistics Footofeminine - in barely ten seconds of play.

- 30th success under Deacon -

Montpellier De Almeida was also very prominent on the right side (assist and goal in the 39th), just like Delphine Cascarino, came into play for two caviars for Parisian Grace Geyoro (60th, 62nd) and score her own goal. (76th), just after a superb volley from Viviane Asseyi (55th) and a goal from Kadidiatou Diani (45th + 1).

Enough to make the 30th victory of the Deacon era (in 38 matches) satisfactory for deputy Eric Blahic, at the helm of the team on Friday night.

Just like for the some 600 invited spectators who came to enjoy a last evening before the curfew, which started an hour after the final whistle in the Loiret.

At the accounting level, the Blue come back to Austria in the qualifying group for the Euro postponed from 2021 to 2022 and make sure to be at the worst second in this pool, which offers them at least a ticket for dams.

Above all, they gain confidence before going to challenge the Austrians on Tuesday, also undefeated in these qualifiers.

© 2020 AFP