Euro féminin 2022 – Wendie Renard : “Il n’y a pas de batailles psychologiques à distance avec les autres”

From our special correspondent in Rotherham,

The same duo, the same determination. In Rotherham this Wednesday, Wendie Renard and Corinne Deacon showed up with a little delay in front of the press. Consequence of training that dragged on the eve of facing Belgium (9 p.m.)? Perhaps because, as the French coach explained, Les Bleues “expect everything“.

Faced with Belgium, the less upscale opponent of this group D, the France team already has a break point. A win would automatically qualify them for the quarter-finals. A win combined with a draw or a loss to Iceland would give them first place. The opportunity is great and it is therefore in the same state of mind and with the same words as before facing Italy that the two women approached this duel between neighbors.

“There is a lot of focus and determinationthus explained the captain of the Blue. We know that we can secure this place in the quarters. We are like on the eve of the first match: concentrated, determined, applied“. As for the stake of the match, it does not “change nothing“according to Deacon:”In any case, we will not have finished our mini championship of three matches“.

No relaxation to be expected

But this France – Belgium is also a way of reaffirming its status. Because Les Bleues hit hard, very hard in their inaugural match. Since then, England and Germany, in particular, have also offered dominant and impressive faces. So, will the Habs want to respond in this indirect three-way fight?

“There is no psychological battle at a distancesmiled Wendie Renard. We make our merry way. It’s important for us, to keep our momentum going and continue with the goals we’ve set ourselves. The big nations are there, it will be up to us to be there tomorrow. We don’t put pressure on ourselves“.

Answers finally in line with the last days lived by the Blue, since this first enchanted match against Italy. Joy, certainly, but a lot of concentration for the future. It’s almost a surprise that Corinne Deacon has seen for herself that she won’t even need to insist to avoid any relaxation after this exhilarating first match.

“I didn’t need to talk muchexplained the coach about her message to her players to avoid overconfidence. When I entered the locker room, they were already recovering. By themselves, they were turned on their recovery and on the projection of the match tomorrow. We talk about osmosis between the old and the young. Very sincerely, I think we can also say that there is an osmosis between the players and the staff because we didn’t even have to say it.“.

So, what to expect from this match against the Belgians? No doubt an opposition of styles already, with a low block more likely than the Italian defense in open house operation on Sunday. But, above all, the coach of the Blue wants to review the momentum and this powerful offensive animation. “What I want to see again are goalsshe explained before concluding on the symbolism of a match played on July 14. I hope it will be the fireworks of our national holiday“History to celebrate, already, the ticket for the quarters.