We had to wait for a question from a colleague to Wendie Renard, at the end of the press conference, on the discussions initiated by the English selection with the equipment supplier Nike in order to modify the white shorts and not expose themselves to the tasks related to the rules, to trigger smiles, especially from Corinne Deacon, seated to her left.
So far, the atmosphere remained a little cold for this first meeting on English soil of the coach and the captain of the Blue in front of the media.
Before going to train for the first time on the superb lawn of New York Stadium in Rotherham, Wendie Renard therefore answered the question posed.
“Honestly it's not bad because indeed, maybe not for you… but your mom or your sisters, it's not easy.
But then we adapt.
We are high level players and we know that unfortunately we have that.
It's part of our life.
But it's true that it's a good thing, I congratulate the English for that.
So if they can do the same for us that would be cool!
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The Blue press officer asked: “Is it good for everyone?
But one last hand went up.
"We're not going to stop there anyway!
then slipped Corinne Deacon in a burst of laughter.
The press conference over, the French have therefore trained in the small stadium where 10,500 people will take place this Sunday.
They then joined for the night only a nearby hotel, made available by UEFA, in Sheffield.
This saved them from having to return to their base camp at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, just over an hour away.
Since last Tuesday, it is in this fitness area located in the countryside that the tricolor group has taken up residence, benefiting from both the comfortable facilities of the establishment, in particular a swimming pool and a spa, and a magnificent adjoining training ground.
"It's true that the FFF has made efforts to put us in the best conditions," says Wendie Renard.
The base camp is good, it's a shame we just don't have a network but the wifi works well so we try to adapt as best we can.
After we have everything nearby and it's true that it's nice.
But the most important thing is tomorrow (Sunday), we will have to get back into the competition.
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It is therefore in peace, cut off from the outside, that the Blues waited their turn.
“The collective is eager to start the competition, admits Renard.
We knew from the draw that we would be the last group to play.
So inevitably there will have been a lot of waiting, but that's how it is.
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"I did not necessarily notice impatience"
If a group of young female footballers from Normandy managed to be invited to attend fifteen minutes of training on Friday evening, the Blues had little exchange with the outside world.
In the center of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, five kilometers from Champneys Springs where the tricolors live, their presence is not the most shared information.
Even if the small town of 12,000 inhabitants is twinned with Pithiviers, the Bleues are not in the news there.
Some don't even know that the Euro has started...
This is hardly a problem for the French players who are waiting their turn.
“The more it happens, the longer it becomes,” launched Marion Torrent on Thursday.
"I didn't necessarily notice any impatience, at least not on the training sessions, assures Deacon.
There is also no nervousness during off-field periods.
I rather feel a serene, focused team, which wants to start the competition well and who knows how to laugh when it has to be done.
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