League of Nations (F): Renard evokes “a huge challenge” for the Blue

The coach of the French women's team Hervé Renard estimated Tuesday that the Blues had "a huge challenge to take on" against Spain, world champion, on Wednesday in the final of the League of Nations in Seville, which they will play with “a crazy desire” to win.

Question: What state of mind are the Blues in on the eve of this Nations League final? Answer: “I think the first thing is that we have to be happy to be there. It's always a huge chance to make a final, whatever the competition. It's a bit of a special moment for the French women's team so you have to savor it. We must not put off until tomorrow what we can do today. So concentration, determination and self-confidence.”

Q: What is your view on Spain, world champion? A: “Spain were world champions in a deserved way. She is the one who played the most beautiful football and it is right that she is world champion. It’s a team that scores a lot of goals but also concedes a lot (...). We are aware of facing the first team in the Fifa ranking and reigning world champion. This is a huge challenge to take on. We'd rather have to face it than watch it on TV. We have a lot of qualities, believe in ourselves. These kinds of matches are decided on details, on tactical rigor. It will be necessary to concentrate on all the stopped phases. We play football for this adrenaline, we must not be afraid of it. You have to respect your opponent and have a crazy desire to beat him.”

Q: Spain have a possession game, how will you counter it?A: “Possession is good when it is effective. Against Italy, Spain had 70% possession but Italy won (...). We worked on their matches, we have to dissect them. We must have the means to counter their strengths. We must succeed in putting into practice what we have identified.”

Q: You have already won finals when you were at the head of selections (Ivory Coast, Zambia), what will be the content of your talk? A: “The speech is a classic. The important thing is to be there, to be happy to be there, there is nothing else to think about. Being well concentrated, being united with each other, cohesion is the main thing, it's the recipe. They have everything to do it, we will try to make the match difficult for this Spanish team.

Q: You have introduced increased competition among goalkeepers, do you know who will start on Wednesday against Spain? A: “I think it is important to introduce some competition. The replacement players will say that there are never enough. This is part of the areas for progress. These last matches, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin has excelled, so it will be her who will start tomorrow (Wednesday) evening.

Q: What do you think of Spanish striker Salma Paralluelo, third in the 2023 Ballon d'Or rankings? A: “She has power, speed and a great left foot. We also have very good attackers, Marie-Antoinette Katoto or Eugénie Le Sommer... I concentrate on the opponent but much more on my team, that's what is most important.

Q: Is women's football developing quite quickly in your opinion? “I've been in this world for not long and I have a slightly different outlook. I think things are progressing. Perhaps not at the pace that the players, managers and federations would like, but things are progressing. There are many means that are implemented. The fact that Spain is world champion, I think the country is grateful to the team and it will continue to grow. I am sure that on Wednesday there will be huge support for the Spanish team. This requires marketing, communication and attractive stadiums. “All this is part of the package that must make women’s football more and more attractive.”

Comments collected at a press conference