set pieces, Le Sommer-Katoto duo, solidity versus technique… The keys to the final between Les Bleues and Spain

The French team is aiming for the first title in its history in the Nations League final against La Roja in Seville on Wednesday (7 p.m.).

It is the biggest meeting in the history of the selection. The French team is playing in Spain, Wednesday February 28 (7 p.m.), the final of the first edition of the Nations League, launched in the fall by UEFA. Facing the Blues now stands Spain, crowned world champion in the summer of 2023, which counts Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati in its ranks. Franceinfo: sport presents the keys to the match.

Set pieces to break the deadlock

In this Nations League campaign, Hervé Renard’s players have made goals from set pieces their specialty. “We work on them. Gilles Fouache, the goalkeeping coach, takes care of it in a remarkable way. It’s also a strength to know that, on set pieces, we can make the difference.”explained Eric Blahic, the assistant to the coach, Hervé Renard, in front of the FFF cameras.

Since their first group match against Portugal in September, Les Bleues have scored more than half of their goals from set pieces (6 out of 11, with a penalty, three corners and two free kicks). The two goals scored in the semi-final against Germany were in this way. To maintain this success, the French can count on a specialist, Lyonnaise Selma Bacha. “She trains a lot, it’s part of her game”assures Charlotte Lorgeré, defender at RC Lens, who has an international cap.

What agreement for the Le Sommer-Katoto doublet?

The French offensive capabilities will also depend on the understanding of the offensive doublet, made up of Eugénie Le Sommer and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. Associated with the front of a 4-4-2 formation during the match against Germany, they delivered contrasting performances. Named player of the match, Eugénie Le Sommer, who wore the captain’s armband, was very active and showed herself a lot. On the contrary, the Parisian was more discreet, muzzled by the opposing hinge and less easily found by her teammates. “He missed the connection with Katoto to find it in good conditions and for it to be decisive“believes Charlotte Lorgeré.

Enough to raise questions about how to make them play together. “I said that they were relatable, that they had qualities to play together”, explained coach Hervé Renard just before the match against Germany. A vision shared by her evening captain, as she explained after the reception against Austria at the beginning of December: “I think there is no need to talk too much with Marie. She feels the game and I try to adapt to her (…) We complement each other and I hope we can continue to both help the team.”

Rely on a solid and physical base to thwart technique

Spectators at La Cartuja stadium in Seville should be treated to a clash of styles. Reigning world champion, Spain is renowned for its very technical game, supported by a backbone of players from FC Barcelona, ​​perhaps the best team in Europe currently. “They are complementary, technical, fast, capable of organizing well, of attacking in numbersanalyzes Eric Blahic. Spanish teams are often a collective strength, a quality of passing play, positional play, formations capable of moving between the lines, of gaining depth.”

To compete, the Blues will have to rely on what makes them strong: a solid defensive base (they are still the best defense in League A with two small goals conceded) and an effective transition game. “The strength of France is its aggressiveness and its determination. This is what Hervé Renard is looking for.”assures Charlotte Lorgeré. Especially since La Roja can show signs of weakness in defense against this transition game, which skips the midfield.

A first final against a released team

Which way will the psychological ascendancy lean? On the one hand, the Blues are playing the first final in their history, after numerous disappointments. But nothing to disturb the group, according to Charlotte Lorgeré: “The fact of having freshness, of having new players who arrived a little later… They will be able to approach this match like any tournament. I think it’s a very good test before the Games (…) We shouldn’t put pressure on ourselves, they are in good conditions.”

Opposite, Spain, which hosts in the La Cartuja stadium, in Seville, where it has already played its semi-final on Friday with a new attendance record at home, has the home advantage. But perhaps she approaches the meeting with a little less pressure. Crowned world champion in Australia last summer, she has already broken the glass ceiling and won a historic first title. Above all, its victory against the Netherlands also made it possible to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris.