a qualification not yet acquired, a finish to polish, young people who are pushing… Lessons from the October gathering

Several certainties and areas of work. Unlike the first meeting of the season, that of October allowed us to learn several lessons around the selection of Hervé Renard. Four days after its victory in Oslo (2-1), the Blue showed more difficulty finishing against the same Norway (0-0), Tuesday October 31, in Reims.

“We had the chances but we didn’t take them. We weren’t put in danger so it’s even more frustrating. It was hard to play the back and forth in a few days. Physically , in the first half, they hurt us”underlined midfielder Sandie Toletti in the mixed zone after the match, even if France is still at the top of its Nations League group with two days remaining.

We will have to fight until the end in this group

If the Bleues largely dominated this second meeting against the Scandinavians, the result reminds us that everything will not be decided in advance in this group, despite their faultless performance during their first three outings in the competition. “The level displayed was not high enough to win this match. It lacked that little something which would have done us good”Hervé Renard soberly commented at a press conference.

“We will meet again next month. It’s up to us to ensure that we have a clear path and that we finish this League of Nations correctly in first place,” he continued while qualification for the Final Four of this competition is only obtained by finishing first. With three points ahead of Austria, who they will host in Rennes on December 1st before traveling to Portugal, the French players have their destiny in their hands but must not give up.

At the finish, it sucks

22 shots, six on target and three goals hit by Sandy Baltimore, Amandine Henry and Eugénie Le Sommer… The least we can say is that the French team experienced big lapses in finishing against Norway, Tuesday. If they had competed in success until now when they managed to take their chances, the Blues this time ran into a wall. “Tonight, it was above all the collective aspect which prevented us from winning this match. We should have performed better collectively. We weren’t very fair on the last pass, that’s what allowed us lack”analyzed the coach.

France is also completing a new training session without any of its offensive players having scored a single goal. While Eugénie Le Sommer had opportunities on Tuesday, Kadidiatou Diani was relegated to the bench by Hervé Renard. “We are demanding with it because we know its value, its effectiveness. Today, we see her a little less, she must do better”reminded the coach before the meeting, before noting that she had still created “differences” upon entry.

Dufour and Baltimore, two wingers we can count on

If the presence of Eugénie Le Sommer and Kadidiatou Diani at the Olympic Games does not currently suffer from the slightest doubt despite a list reduced to 18 players, this gathering proved that we could also count on the substitutes in attack. Established each time on the left, Paris FC winger Julie Dufour was at ease for her first two selections for Les Bleues. “She lived up to what we expected. She tried, she combined on her side”judged Hervé Renard.

In the same way, Sandy Baltimore also repaid the trust placed in her by the staff in Reims. Dangerous and twirling against the Norwegians, the Parisian showed another face even though she had not been invited to the World Cup. “I congratulated her for all the efforts she made because they showed. She worked a lot harder, that’s the reason why she is at a better level with PSG. Tonight she gave the maximum, she hit, she hit and I think her match is over”greeted the coach.

Constance Picaud well established in the goals

She had already been inducted number 1 by Hervé Renard at the end of a World Cup where Pauline Peyraud-Magnin had narrowly missed the foot. As in September, Constance Picaud played all the matches in goal, in the absence of her Turin competitor, called up but withdrawn due to injury.

“I didn’t think I would have a string of starts, in official matches at that. I really look at the present moment and I don’t plan too much because we could be disappointed. I’m thirsty to learn, thirsty to play. My defense is full of experience and I learn a lot alongside them”, she explained precisely ahead of this second meeting against Norway. Additional reason for satisfaction for her, the French rearguard is the best of the 16 teams present in League A despite a goal conceded in Oslo.