The France team faces the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Euro, this Saturday.
Les Bleues have failed at this stage of the competition in the last five attempts.
But Laura Georges, the former captain, is optimistic in view of this shock against the defending champions.
That's it, the serious things are finally starting.
After the amuse-bouche of the group stage, which Les Bleues finished undefeated, the French team approaches the main course.
Hearty, heavy and surely hard to swallow.
This Saturday, in the quarter-finals of the Euro, the France team faces the Netherlands, defending champions.
If the Dutch advance a little gropingly, with packages, performances below, the teammates of Grace Geyoro, they finally want to defeat the boss of the middle game: the quarters.
Because during the last five competitions (Euro, Olympics, Worlds), the pupils of Corinne Deacon have never managed to cross the threshold of the quarter-finals.
Laura Georges knows something about it.
The former defender of the Blue, 188 selections between 2001 and 2018, remained blocked three times at this stage of the competition.
But she does not make it inevitable.
Was there, in your time, a particular apprehension before approaching the quarter-finals?
No, the deadline for the quarter-finals has never scared us.
In fact, a competition is approached in two ways.
First there is the group stage, where we know we have to qualify, so we focus on that.
And after, we enter the elimination phase, but that is not more scary.
We just tell ourselves that this is a game where you can go home at the end and that you should have no regrets.
We were especially in this spirit, at the time.
“Men are better at selling themselves.
It's very masculine to speak with certainties.
On the other hand, there is sometimes a gap between the insurance of the interview and what is proposed afterwards.
Result: they are only 7 in D1 and D2, out of 45 clubs.
https://t.co/1LmG5RQN8s
— Antoine Huot (@AntoineHuot) July 5, 2022
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But, by dint of failing, you weren't thinking of a curse that surrounded you?
No, there is no curse.
It's just a media story, which reminds us that we had lost on different occasions.
But, deep down inside, there was never a moment when we said to ourselves: “Hey, we are used to losing at this time.
We really didn't think about it.
You mentioned a competition in two phases.
Is there a difference in mood between the group stage and the knockout game?
The state of mind is always the same: that of conquering, winning the match.
But we know that, inevitably, a knockout match, you have no backup plan.
It's really saying to yourself: “There is no calculation to be made, we are going there to win, period.
“You really need a conquering state of mind, not to approach the match thinking that we are going to spin the ball.
I'm not talking about the coach's point of view, but we players were really into "having no regrets".
When you mentally approach a quarter-final against the reigning European champions?
If I put myself in the shoes of the girls, it is absolutely necessary to get out of the idea that they face the defending champions.
Afterwards, we should not think too much about the disputed meeting in February, when the Blues beat the Oranjes 3-1, with two goals from Katoto.
It is obviously a quality opponent, but France is also strong.
You have to have confidence in your abilities.
They have what it takes to beat the Netherlands.
They will not look at the opponent.
It would be a mistake to focus on them.
You just have to know how you can hurt them.
Afterwards, the defending champions are always favourites.
You were talking about Marie-Antoinette Katoto… How detrimental will her absence be?
In fact, I'm happy to see what the French team has shown with Melvine Malard at the forefront of the attack [scorer against Iceland], even if it is possible that Ouleymata Sarr is established.
What is interesting is that the France team has players who can take over, who have talent that can destabilize the Dutch.
I wouldn't say Katoto's absence is detrimental.
Les Bleues must also learn to compensate with other players, who play in big clubs, who play in the Champions League.
I'm not worried about the face that will be displayed by Les Bleues during this quarter-final.
Aren't you worried about the performance of Les Bleues in the second half, which is a little slower?
Not at all.
This match is going to be played out with “consistency” in effort, concentration, solidity, efficiency… The main thing is to win the matches at the end.
Often, the media [decidedly…] are there to say that the second period was less successful.
But, at the end of the match, what are you being asked?
We have seen teams that play well and lose.
The main thing is that the girls know how they should continue to progress.
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French women's team
Soccer
Euro
Quarterfinal
Corinne Deacon