France Bleu Mayenne: The French team will face Norway tomorrow evening in Laval, at Espace Mayenne. You played there three weeks ago, victory against Croatia in front of more than 3000 people. Do you like this room that you also know as a first division player?
Kevin Ramirez: “Obviously, especially when it’s full. It was full against Croatia and it will be sold out tomorrow night. Really pleasant and with a great desire to play again in this Mayenne space, then to see our supporters because we have created links now and in any case a great pleasure to play again at Espace Mayenne.”
FBM: We say to ourselves that it is an audience of connoisseurs because there is the presence of a first division club in Laval?
KR: “Yes, a knowledgeable public, a passionate public, I would say, who support their team and who supported us three weeks ago now. So it’s very pleasant and in any case, it gives us additional strength and it motivates us. And then, hoping that tomorrow night, it goes well and that the public can fully enjoy this French team. “
FBM: This match against Norway is a match that will count for qualifying for the 2024 World Cup. Norway and Serbia are in this qualifying group with France. How do you approach this meeting against the Norwegians, the weakest team in the group, at least on paper?
KR: “With great respect. We’ve been preparing for this for more than a year now. We approach these qualifications with great respect and with humility but with a great desire to do things well. We want to start these qualifications before leaving for Serbia.”
FBM: The game against Serbia will be on Wednesday. It will certainly be a higher quality opponent. In a way, does this allow Norway to fit well into these qualifications?
KR: “We are going to try to do well in these qualifications. We are indeed very concentrated. We are working very well here at Clairefontaine. So tomorrow evening, we will be ready and we will be determined. Afterwards, we will have time to think about Serbia .”
FBM: The objective of the French team is to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. But is it an obstacle course?
KR: “It’s a very long way. First there is a group of three, so the first one qualifies directly, then the best runners-up. And then there are play-offs. So yes, it’s an obstacle course. It’s complicated, but I’ll say it again, we’re determined, we’ve been working well for almost a year now and before that we’ve worked well too. So we’re taking the matches one after the other . There, we have Norway. We will give ourselves the means, we give ourselves the means. So now, we must also start our qualifications in the best possible way. And then afterwards, we will see what is going on.”
FBM: This futsal team, necessarily less well known than the French eleven-a-side football team, can thus take its place in the sports landscape?
KR: “Yes, of course. We are starting to be more and more known and recognized, with a lot of work also from the federation and the clubs. So we are making our place little by little. And as you can see, the theaters are full. And again tomorrow it will be sold out.”