Victorious of the first Women's Tournament of France in history, the Bleues finished the test this Tuesday evening in Valenciennes in a stadium behind closed doors, coronavirus forced, and by a 3-3 draw with twists and turns against the Netherlands, champions of Europe and vice-world champions. After the meeting, the three-color coach Corinne Diacre rose satisfied with the pride reaction of her team to remain unbeaten and drew a more than positive assessment of the competition.
What do you remember from this match?
CORINNE DIACRE. You can never be happy to concede goals. We had a hell of an opponent in front of us. Yes, we took goals. But I especially remember the character that this French team was able to show to return to the score and equalize at the end of the game. We haven't given up on anything. The incoming players brought and showed another face to this team.
Is there one you are most satisfied with?
I am satisfied with the whole group. All the girls who entered brought something. Not one more than another. It is really the collective that we must salute this evening.
Did you pull up the suspenders at the break?
No. Defensively, we were well placed even if it is paradoxical with two goals conceded. But we did not apply at all what we had planned in the use of the ball to thwart the play of the Dutch, playing in depth and in the back of the defense. We did it more in the second period with the players who came in.
These three goals leave you a little regret?
No. It is not disappointment. It's part of the game. We can't do clean sheets every time. We sometimes lacked concentration, but it was a special patch. We tried to remove this heavy atmosphere from our heads. I retain this ability to return to the score. The only small regret is that we did not score the third goal before the Dutch during our highlights. On the contrary, we cash in at that time, like a certain match last June (Editor's note: in the quarterfinals of the World Cup against the United States) .
How did you approach the atmosphere behind closed doors?
Playing was already a good thing. We knew that our supporters were somewhere behind us, behind their screens. We wanted to make a serious match. Even though it was friendly, it was an international match. It was up to us the French team to set the mood, which we did not do in the first period when these two goals cooled us down. But I will remember this second one showed another face, with a lot of courage, of self-denial.
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Why did you put Katoto as a torchbearer and how did you find her?
I put it there so as not to change the system. We tested her at this position in training. Her defensive role was to stay very close to the Spitse area, which she did very well. Because four times out of five, the Dutch game goes through this player. Offensively, she is still too selfless. She might be more selfish at times and should try her luck more. But she arrives in the group.
What is your assessment of this first French Tournament?
We won this first edition. It was important for the French Federation and our president. The results are positive with two victories and no draw against a team which has had convincing results in recent years. We can also salute the organization of the Federation. Except for tonight, for the reasons we know, the northern public responded.
After the declarations and criticisms of the past few months, do you feel that this Tournoi de France has helped to iron things out?
We have been moving forward since the start of the competition. The three outings show that the French team is looking forward. There is a before and an after. We don't forget the past, but we look forward.