Forever the first. In April 2018, the French Football Federation (FFF) "was the first federation in the world" to launch "its" national team in Esport, proudly confides François Vasseur, marketing director of the FFF. "It made children," says the head of the Efoot project within the FFF. A year later, FIFA, which is in a deal with Electronic Arts (publisher of the Fifa video game), decided to organize the first World Cup, the e-Nations Cup. ” In April 2019, the French team made up of Lucas Cuillerier, aka DaXe, and Corentin Thuillier, aka Maestro, beat Argentina in the final of the inaugural edition. A first success in a project considered a duty by the FFF, at a time of the explosion of the Esport sector. "We dug into the subject a bit,we talked to people about the eco-system, explains François Vasseur. Having a French team was really an innovative idea linked to our expertise, with the promise of giving Efoot players the experience of the French team. "
“Obviously Clairefontaine, that's the place I wanted to go as a kid.
I went there via another path ... "
Brian Savary, coach of the French Efoot team
Each year, the FFF invites around fifteen of the best French players to a selection camp, organized at the Fernand-Sastre National Technical Center, more commonly known as “Clairefontaine”. Where the Zidane and Thuram stayed, and where the Pogba and Mbappé still stay at each international break. These players are supervised by a coach, an Esport version Didier Deschamps: Brian Savary, aged 27. Coach of the Blues since January 2020, he selects five lucky ones to represent France. "We are all big football fans," smiles Brian Savary who, like many boys, dreamed of a football career. “Obviously Clairefontaine, that's the place I wanted to go as a kid. I went there via another path ... It does something. " “When we won the first e-Nations Cup,they were in a trance, recalls François Vasseur. Our two players met Cédric O (Secretary of State in charge of digital), Noël Le Graët (President of the FFF). They really brought home the trophy. ”
The e-Bleus open to amateurs
In practice, all tournaments on football video games are done in 1v1. But in national selection, the 2v2 is privileged. "The best French people will perhaps be competitors all year round, but in the French team, they will play together in the same team", denotes François Vasseur. Just like a Raphaël Varane from Real Madrid, rival of his friend Antoine Griezmann at FC Barcelona. And as in “real” football, there is the technical-tactical aspect. “At the selection camp, we noticed that the very good 1v1 players are not necessarily very good 2v2 players, because it is not at all the same way of playing,” says Brian Savary who has “very little time to work "with his players each year" to try to erase the small errors that there may be in their game. "It happens thatat the selection camp, I summon amateurs who do not have a team but who are still very good, adds the coach of the Blues. But most have a club, are paid by their club and the France team remains a bonus for them. "
This team pic.twitter.com/T74RTFn9jC
- Equipe de France eFoot ⭐️ (@efootdefrance) May 24, 2021
A bonus during which they play for France ... but not always with France. During the e-Nations Cup on Fifa, the Fifa Ultimate Team (FUT) mode, very popular online because it consists of building your own team from scratch, is privileged. “We make the team we want,” says Brian Savary. France can then be represented by "Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrick Vieira or Ronaldinho". So it's like that in the World Cup. “But UEFA, which organizes the Euro, is in a deal with Konami, which publishes PES (Pro Evolution Soccer, the other great football video game, note), explains François Vasseur. This year, we will play a World Cup with our Fifa team and a Euro with our PES team. " At Konami, we offer a recalibrated mode: France will play with the Blues,but the levels of the players will all be equal between the different teams. Otherwise Albania, Greece or even Kosovo would leave with a handicap against Germany or England, in a competition in which "the 55 national associations of UEFA participate", specifies the body. The final phase of this e-Euro will take place on July 9 and 10, "between the semi-finals and the final of the Euro, in London", projects François Vasseur. What to aim for a summer double on field and on console."Between the semi-finals and the final of the Euro, in London", projects François Vasseur. What to aim for a summer double on field and on console."Between the semi-finals and the final of the Euro, in London", projects François Vasseur. What to aim for a summer double on field and on console.
