Three years after the World Cup organized in France, the women’s selections are enjoying the atmosphere of a major international competition. England and Austria will kick off the 13th European Women’s Football Championship on Wednesday July 6 in Manchester. The Dutch, crowned at home in 2017, put their title on the line against the 15 other qualified countries. The former top scorer of the France team Marinette Pichon talks to franceinfo: sport about the tricolor chances, the stakes and the favorites of the tournament.
Franceinfo: sport: What can we expect from the French team for this Euro?
Marinette Pichon: The group (Italy, Belgium, Iceland) is affordable. The whole thing is to be able to get out of the hens quite quietly, by building up a maximum of confidence, by continuing to refine the automatisms between the different positions. The goal is to get out of the pool, finish first, then win the most matches behind. I wish this team, which has great potential, to go as far as possible. In the preparation matches (against Cameroon and Vietnam), they often had control of the ball, quickly taking the advantage. Physically, they seem fine.
Has the team prepared as well as possible to tackle a major competition?
This is my point of concern. The preparation matches did not necessarily offer an athletic and tactical opposition to the France team, so there are questions on these points. We could not gauge the repetition of the efforts with the intensity, the athletic commitment, and the fact of being caught out in the defensive sector, especially in the transitions.
There are also questions about the ability to be able to resist when you have dips. They haven’t been used to being behind, so we’ll have to see how the girls will react when that happens. Close to the competition, we do not really know what it will give. On the other hand, other teams such as England, Spain or Italy, competed against each other. This allowed them to give themselves a level of performance.
Les Bleues enters the fray on Sunday against Italy. How should the French women approach this meeting?
It’s a difficult first opposition, a trap match. The Italians have a hard game, sometimes a little trickster. It will be interesting to watch. The girls will have to bear this little pressure, endure the provocations, and be focused on their game.
What other teams to watch?
Obviously, we must mention Sweden, by its status and its course at the last Olympic Games (finalist). Germany will be present, as always, Norway is coming back just as strong. England and Spain will also be ones to watch. Just like Italy, which showed good form in the friendlies, and the Netherlands, defending champions.
It’s #WEURO2022 matchweek
Who are you backing? pic.twitter.com/xu2Iokg43k
— UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 (@WEURO2022) July 4, 2022
There are also questions about historic teams, such as Switzerland or Belgium. It’s quite open and uncertain. If I had to choose, I would cite the Netherlands, England, Spain, and then France.
With a 16-team format and direct qualification for the quarter-finals, there is no room for error…
Yes, and it’s a format that I personally like. There is no time to procrastinate, we must move forward without thinking. There are few matches in the end, so the players will be particularly observed. There are several to watch in each selection, such as Jennifer Hermoso for Spain. On the side of the Netherlands, there is also heavy, with Lieke Martens, Vivianne Miedema. We will also have to look at the return of Ada Hegerberg with Norway. That’s what she did to carry her team and bring her experience. She will be able to be on the lawn the leader she was off the field [Ada Hegerberg s’est mise en retrait de la sélection pendant cinq ans notamment pour protester contre les disparités de traitement entre les sélections masculines et féminines].
Will this Euro make it possible to assess the progress of the enthusiasm for women’s football in France and in Europe?
Indeed. I have the impression that since the World Cup in France, even if a lot of efforts have been made by the French federation, the bellows have fallen a little, in particular because of the pandemic. It’s a shame for France, which had invested a lot for the World Cup. This competition will make it possible to make a new inventory.