Eight consecutive defeats in an official match, zero goals scored, thirty-three conceded… and now France.
To say that Corinne Deacon's players start favorites Friday night (9:10 p.m.) against Estonia, 105th nation in the world and not really used to the concept of three points, is an understatement.
In the game of predictions, the public at the Duvauchelle stadium in Créteil (Val-de-Marne) will even bet more on the number of goals apart than on the name of the winner for this qualifying match for the 2023 World Cup. But is it really necessary to rejoice at the lack of homogeneity among the national women's teams?
While the Habs are still chasing a first major title, two years after a missed home World Cup, the question arises.
The Euro starts in eight months and will be played at a very different pace.
Some matches are sometimes more hooked than expected like last month in Slovenia (2-3).
But for Farid Benstiti, renowned coach with OL and PSG, see, for example, France unsolder Greece 10-0 “discredits women's football”.
“There are plenty of selections that are not yet ready.
The divide is widening as some nations develop rapidly, and others more slowly.
It makes groups of very dispersed level, ”he laments.
"Alas, we had a head start, and we are getting caught up a lot"
It now remains to keep a good place in the leading car, made up of around fifteen nations. Which is not necessarily obvious. On the European scene alone, the Blues see the Spanish or Italian tumble down, teams that were still very late ten years ago and who have made progress by investing in their national championships.
This new competition worries Jessica Houara-d'Hommeaux, former international and now consultant for Canal +.
“Alas, we were ahead, and we are caught up a lot.
I have the impression that we are not evolving a lot, ”she regrets, calling for an example from England.
“The Women's Super League has become more professional, with strict specifications.
When we see the matches, these are the big clubs that have a female version.
Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United… We too have to aim for that to make our championship more competitive ”.
When will professionalization be expected in France?
This issue is a sea serpent for the French Football Federation (FFF), organizer of D1 Arkema. Sports economist Luc Arrondel has just published a study this week (“The labor market for female footballers: towards professionalization!”, By Luc Arrondel and Richard Duhautois (CEET, Cnam) on the subject. “Since the 2019 World Cup in home, not much is happening. There are discussions to have a collective agreement specific to elite players but when we see the speed of reforms in England over the past five years, we must still be wary " , alerts the CNRS researcher.
Beyond “the urgency to professionalize, Farid Benstiti also deplores the lack of confidence given to French training.
We have a lot of foreigners who are no better than our players.
Our young people are suddenly dispersed and diluted in the championship.
They would have to be in the best stables to pull the France team up.
»Essential projects, but which can seem dizzying at the other end of Europe for a nation like Estonia.