Patras (Greece) (AFP)
The return of the Blue Friday against modest Greece, in qualification for the World-2023, took an unexpected spotlight with the announcement of the surprise return of Wendie Renard as captain, a strong gesture ten months before Euro-2022 .
"The captain of the France team from tomorrow and until the Euro will be Wendie," said Corinne Deacon in sunny Patras, more than 200 kilometers west of Athens, where the Tricolores face Friday (5:00 p.m.) the 64th selection in the Fifa rankings.
With this choice, the coach intends to draw a line on the past: her decision to withdraw the Martiniquaise armband had parasitized her start of term in 2017. It is also a way of preparing for the future, with the idea that the multi-titled captain of OL will be able to instill the necessary conquering spirit for France to finally open its record next summer.
"We think first of all of the general interest, of the team," Deacon explained to the media present at the Pampeloponnisiako stadium, including AFP.
"At each start of the course we say that we look forward and not in the retro. It was an opportunity to put a strong act in front of words and lyrics that we have had for a while."
The boss of the Blue spoke of an "honest, respectful discussion" with the great central defender (125 caps), with a rich record of seven Champions Leagues with OL.
"We are going to need a little time in spite of everything, for her, for me, for us, for the group. But we have this time, since we have ten months to prepare for the Euro", a- she breathed.
- "Nothing is ever acquired" -
This development relegates to the background the debate surrounding the non-selection of Amandine Henry, her captain at the 2019 World Cup with whom she is cold, and Eugénie Le Sommer, one of the vice-captains and also top scorer of the history of Les Bleues.
On Thursday, Deacon again assumed his position, hinting that these "timing choices" might last.
"Nothing is ever acquired, even if we have I do not know how many selections, even if we have the record of goals for the France team", knowing that "young young people knock on the door".
Les Bleues defender Wendie Renard during the friendly match against Germany at La Meinau stadium in Strasbourg, June 10, 2021 PATRICK HERTZOG AFP / Archives
Among these young shoots, it will miss Friday the Parisian Sandy Baltimore (21 years), spared because of a "small embarrassment", according to the coach.
The left winger should be able on the other hand Tuesday in Slovenia.
Confronting Greece, which France has beaten in the six previous confrontations, is a way of already preparing for the Euro even if, as Deacon repeats, we must "not be mistaken in the objective".
"The priority is first of all qualifying for the World Cup. Now, if we can kill two birds with one stone, that is to say work at the same time and prepare for the Euro, we will not be embarrassed, "she insisted Thursday.
- Youth and experience -
The French have ten months to get up to the level of favorite nations, such as the Netherlands, Spain or England, which will play at home.
Winning the European Championship is possible "because there is talent" among young people, assures Gilles Eyquem, former coach of the under-20s.
"We need a few executives around", "competitors" like Wendie Renard, Aïssatou Tounkara or even Griedge Mbock (currently injured), he told AFP, and "that can make a very interesting result".
Bleues coach Corinne Deacon supervises a training session for her players in Clairefontaine, near Paris, April 5, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives
It is also the idea of Deacon and she has posted it since the beginning of the school year, praising this "mixture of youth and very experienced players".
Currently, "there is quality, youth, experience, it's super interesting to work with this group," she insisted Thursday.
To continue her refounding work, the 47-year-old technician can rely on a favorable balance sheet.
Since the elimination in the quarter-finals of the World Cup-2019 against the United States, the Blue have lost only once in three years, again against "Team USA" (2-0 defeat in a friendly), winning two draws and fifteen victories, including two recent ones against England (3-1) and Germany (1-0).
© 2021 AFP