It’s a big bluff that is likely to last until the pre-match chat at three twenty before the kick-off of France – Netherlands, this Saturday (9 p.m., TF1, Canal +) in Rotherham . Already, at the end of the match against Iceland (1-1), Monday, Corinne Deacon had slipped to the address of the Dutch coach present in the stands, that he had seen only what she wanted to show him with a squad strong with six changes from the previous match.
This Thursday, two days before the quarter-finals, a course that the Blues have not managed to cross for five competitions, the coach did not give any more clues about the eleven that she will line up, including her players. The session behind closed doors only involved ball games with three teams, on a small pitch and without any tactical set-up.
A change of method that does not necessarily change much as Corinne Deacon has had fun covering the tracks in recent weeks. Thus Melvine Malard only learned of her tenure against Iceland, at the expense of Ouleymata Sarr who seemed to hold the rope in view of previous training sessions, during the famous pre-match chat.
Everything therefore remains open for the 4-3-3 on Saturday evening. The certainties seem as follows: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in goal, Ève Périsset as a right side, a Mbock-Renard hinge, Geyoro and Bilbaut in the middle.
Doubts can arise from the left side position with Sakina Karchaoui and Selma Bacha in competition, just like, in the middle, Sandie Toletti and Clara Mateo. In attack, in the absence of Marie-Antoinette Katoto, operated this Friday in Lyon, the options are numerous. Diani can stay on the right or be aligned in point. Melvine Malard can take the axis as against Iceland or be shifted to the left as in Lyon. Delphine Cascarino and Sandy Baltimore apply on the left even if the first remains more efficient on the right. Finally, we must not rule out that Clara Mateo comes to take a place on the right of the attack, as at Paris FC…
We may know more after the last training session scheduled for Friday at 6:45 p.m. at New York Stadium in Rotherham, which will be followed, at 7:30 p.m., by Corinne Deacon’s press conference.
On Wednesday, Mark Parsons, the English coach of the Netherlands, stressed to AFP: “France is a top-level team, with top-level players, very consistent in their way of playing. Threats are not lacking but there are also spaces (to be exploited). We saw it against Belgium and Iceland. »