between freshness and the search for the reference match, a trip to Sweden with the feel of an Olympic rehearsal for the Bleues

Three and a half months before its entry into the Olympic Games, the French team challenges the vice-champions of Tokyo on Tuesday, with the desire to strike a big blow in the race for the Euro.

“We’re not thinking about the Games. It’s several months away. Time flies but we’re focused on these qualifiers.” If Hervé Renard assured that he was focused on this priority objective of qualifying for the next Euro on the eve of the match against Sweden scheduled for Tuesday April 9, it was difficult not to perceive in his speech elements reflecting a form of management with a view to Paris 2024.

After a Final Four in February which did not see him make any changes to his starting eleven – which he regretted after the final lost against the sickeningly easy Spaniards (0-2) – the coach adopted a new method in view of this clash with the Olympic vice-champions, third in the last World Cup. “There will be deadlines where we will play every three days [aux Jeux]. You’ll have to get used to it. Some players will not play everything because playing time will be shared”he established Monday in Gothenburg, three and a half months before the competition which will end his mandate.

Renard, Henry and Le Sommer approached

With a view to this duel against the Scandinavians, the French staff had taken care to spare their troops on Friday during the victory over Ireland (1-0), the least tough opponent in this qualifying group. “We are going to have a very difficult match on Tuesday. The Swedes were in England [1-1], I think it was hard for them to manage this kind of encounter. They certainly put in a lot of effort.”justified Hervé Renard in Metz, hoping to take advantage of this accumulated fatigue on the Blagult to play a trick on them at her place.

Returning from a thigh injury, Wendie Renard only played the last quarter of an hour against the Girls in Green. An entry into play marked by a fright at the end of the game following a “little discomfort” on the grass. This time in Sweden, the captain should find her starting costume. “Wendie is fine, she has recovered well. More fear than harm, she could start tomorrow”, confirmed Hervé Renard in the aisles of the Gamla Ullevi stadium. Also on the bench four days ago after an exhausting journey from the United States to join the selection, Amandine Henry is expected in the middle. Just like Eugénie Le Sommer on the attacking front, who only played half an hour in Lorraine.

“Bring intuition, talent and subtlety”

With this management which did not characterize him until then, the coach put all the chances on his side to finally bring out a benchmark match against the 6th nation Fifa, which would send a strong message to the competition before the Games. After trembling against Germany and sinking in Spain, the Irish reception left a taste of unfinished business due to the waste of the attackers at the finish. An evil highlighted in Seville, but which has been eating away at the selection for several months, apart from set pieces.

“We were quite average in the last 25 meters, we will need fewer approximations and more technical accuracy. It is up to the girls to bring this additional intuition, this talent, these spontaneous gestures and subtlety”, insisted Hervé Renard, recalling in passing the value of French solidity behind (9 clean sheets in the last 14 matches). An asset that could work in favor of the Blues on Tuesday to face a Swedish team used to playing in depth, “armed offensively” And “athletic”, as highlighted by defender Maëlle Lakrar, in reference to Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfö or her ex-Montpellier teammate Stina Blackstenius, now at Arsenal.

With the prospect of relegating their opponents to five points in the event of success, this meeting already promises to be a turning point in the Olympic preparation for the Tricolores, before the double confrontation against England. This will also be an opportunity to take revenge: the last trip to Gothenburg in October 2022 ended in a painful 3-0 correction.