Called by the two biggest groups of French supporters who had come to Rotherham to support them, Les Bleues slowly walked towards them to thank them, but never got too close. They will perhaps keep the moments of communion warmer when the qualification for the quarter-finals, or even the first place of the group, will be definitively assured. Despite everything, there were many smiles on their faces, like Corinne Deacon who, after clapping her assistants, went to do the same with each of her players in the middle of the lawn.
Grace Geyoro, she, recovered from the ugly gesture – a foot high in the belly – of the former Parisian Sara Gama, received her trophy, as well deserved, as best player of the match. With her hat-trick, the PSG midfielder greatly contributed to the tricolor success. She won the right to meet alongside Corinne Deacon at a press conference.
“We do not take our opponents lightly”, assures Katoto
But this Sunday evening, in the moist heat of the English summer, the tricolor clan sought above all to remain measured. “It’s a good first, but there are still several so you have to be calm, advanced Marie-Antoinette Katoto at the microphone of TF 1. In the first period Pauline (Peyraud-Magnin, the goalkeeper of the Blue) saved us well and we were very efficient. In the second, we struggled, but I think that physically we are ready. It will be a big game against Belgium, we do not take our opponents lightly. »
Same measured speech on the side of Ève Périsset: “There was a little pressure, we were eager to enter this competition. We had a good first game and there are two more to qualify for the quarter-finals. It’s a strong message, but we have to be careful. »
Inevitably, Corinne Deacon does not say anything else. “The watchword, after the match, was to savor because a first half like that is quite rare when it happens. But we are only at the first step of the six that we have set ourselves. We now have to recover and think about the second game. »
Asked about the “Thank you Corinne” heard outside the stadium, the coach is not racing there either. “It’s fun,” she said. Better to hear that than anything else. If someone had told me it would be 5-0 at halftime, I would have said: It is not possible. Now we stay focused. We must remain vigilant. Even if an introduction like that, we savor, we have just started our work. »
Before concluding to be sure to get his message across: “We are not favorites for all that, but we have ambition. This game is not going to change that. »