End of series for the Blues.

The French team, which remained on 16 victories in a row in competition, will not beat the record of 17, established between August 2011 and July 2012. It took very little to equalize it, at least, but the referee of the third group of the Euro, Monday evening, decided to whistle a penalty after the end of stoppage time, allowing Iceland to snatch the draw (1-1).

It doesn't matter, Corinne Deacon's players were already guaranteed to finish first in their group before kick-off.

But it's still a little infuriating.

“We had a mission, that of winning, we failed to achieve it.

But the VAR was against us tonight, he denied us two goals and we took a penalty because of him, it was not on our side tonight [Monday]”, commented the coach.

Difficult to prove him wrong, especially for the second canceled goal of Grace Geyoro in the 87th.

In what world can the ball that touches the arm of the PSG player while it is stuck to her body and in addition she is surrounded by an opponent be considered a fault?

In short, France was not helped, but it “could also have managed differently” at the end of the match, admits Deacon.

In any case, we will have to be more consistent, over time, against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

It is obviously THE meeting that interests everyone now, the one for which the Blue were scheduled, and the one where they are expected at the turn, after five consecutive eliminations at this stage of the competition since 2012.

“We know, you've been telling us about it for years: we stop at the quarters, we stop at the quarters… Inevitably we're going to be entitled to it the next few days, but that's how it is.

We shouldn't focus on that, ”tried to evacuate captain Wendie Renard after the meeting.

On a wire

The French team showed some weaknesses during this first phase, but the overall results are good (two wins, one draw) and the rise in power continues, while having taken care to spare the troops.

“There is no concern at all: we rotated, we gave playing time, we rested certain players”, is satisfied the coach, who is delighted to have seen Melvine Malard, established for replace the great absentee Marie-Antoinette Katoto, open her counter very quickly.

“Until now I've used it more on one side and it has never let us down.

And this is still the case this evening with a very good performance, she analyzed.

She is a talented young player.

She does not calculate the effort, she gives a lot, and I wanted to return the favor.

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The interested party was also delighted, of course, and did not fail to greet her unhappy teammate.

“We miss her very much.

I wanted to mark, and make a dedication to Marie.

She is there for us, we are there for her, ”she reacted hotly to the microphone of TF1.

The loss of Katoto, if it weakened, even more welded the players.

“We did everything together, we did a great preparation, we expected to do the whole competition together, so obviously we are very disappointed, but we are also very motivated for her, and for the team”, supported Melvine Mallard.

The latter can count on the support of the rest of the team to ensure its mission as well as possible in the upcoming cutthroat matches.

“She has a sense of purpose too, we have full confidence in her, and I am proud of her, assures defender Sakina Karchaoui.

We know that it will be a complicated match in the quarters, we will have to win and nothing else.

From now on, the Blues are moving on a thread.

Sport

Euro 2022: Injured, Marie-Antoinette Katoto forfeited for the rest of the competition

Sport

Euro: "There is no more time to lose" to win a title, insists the coach of the Bleues Corinne Deacon

  • Sport

  • Soccer

  • women's euro football

  • French women's team

  • Corinne Deacon