Herning (Denmark) (AFP)

After a decade spent in Metz, center-half Grâce Zaadi took over this summer in charge of Russia and Rostov, for a first experience abroad which continues to make her grow with the France team at the Euro- 2020.

On Friday, for the second of the three matches of the main round at Euro-2020, Grâce Zaadi had a very found motivation: to annoy as much as possible her new teammates in club in Rostov, who constitute part of the Russian national team and that she gets to know since the end of summer.

At 27, the native of Courcouronnes continues to grow in the blue jersey from the top of her 1.71 meters, and has gradually established herself since 2017 as the patron of the French attack, as evidenced by her 15 goals. (second best French scorer behind the 20 goals of Alexandra Lacrabère) and her 14 assists in the first five matches at Euro-2020 in Denmark.

It is also, by far, the highest playing time on the French side: Zaadi has spent nearly four hours in the field (more than 45 minutes on average per game), a sign of an impressive physique which now allows him also to take part in the defensive phases (one interception and four blocked shots).

Under the jersey of Metz, where she spent 10 years between the training center and the first team, Zaadi was deprived of a final outing by the Covid-19 pandemic, which put an early end to the season, as the Dragonnes headed straight for a new Champions League Final 4 and battled with Brest for the national title.

"Under these conditions, it was very difficult for me to leave Metz. I would have liked to finish on a good note, to go and titillate teams in Final 4", she recalls.

- Advice from Siraba Dembélé -

And "like a child who leaves the family cocoon", it is therefore on the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov, on the border between Ukraine and Russia that she left her luggage, with debuts that are happening extremely well.

"I thought it would go just as well, but maybe not so fast. That's why I prefer to say + for now it's going well +, because I haven't had a harsh winter yet" , underlines Zaadi, with the cold months of January and February on the horizon.

“Maybe I'll be down in the middle of winter, but I'm a girl who adapts easily to that,” she adds.

Her adaptation was facilitated by the advice given by the captain of the Bleues, Siraba Dembélé, former from Rostov (2016-2018), who reassured her.

"Knowing me, she told me that I would like it 100%," Zaadi explains.

Arriving in August, it took a few weeks to find her feet on the pitch, while the new coach, Sweden's Per Anders Johansson, took over the team.

Since the middle of autumn, it has been running at full speed with a good first half of the season in the Champions League (six victories, including one against Metz, and a draw).

In Denmark, for the main round match against Russia, Zaadi was a little behind his usual performances (2 goals, 2 assists), the light going more on Alexandra Lacrabère, Estelle Nze Minko or Océane Sercien-Ugolin .

It is perhaps only in charge of revenge for "Queen G", her nickname in the France team, because she could well cross paths with the Russians.

This would be good news for the Blue, because it will necessarily be for a medal: gold in the final or bronze in the small final.

She will then be able to bring out her "infiltrated" files as she defines herself with a smile, and help France towards a new international medal.

© 2020 AFP