A barrier fell, but it gave onto an even more solid wall. After finally reaching the quarter-finals in major competition, the French women’s team had to lose to Germany at the gates of the Euro 2022 final (2-1 defeat). Bitter in the mixed zone, the captain of the Bleues Wendie Renard sees little more satisfaction in being knocked out in the last four than in the previous round.
“Whether you stop in the quarters or in the semis, it doesn’t change anything for me, the objective is to win the title. There is quality in this group, there are promising young players. It’s a shame to say but I think that tonight they will go through levels because it is by making mistakes that we learn. »
Aim for the final next time
These young players, like Selma Bacha (21), do not let themselves be defeated despite the weight of the first failures and the frustration of the lack of realism, which we felt would end up costing this team dearly. “What regrets? Frankly, just a little efficiency, but otherwise I have no regrets, said Bacha at the microphone of Canal + after the meeting. We gave everything, we looked at each other, we couldn’t take it anymore on the pitch. We gave everything, we really wet this blue jersey. […] We can be proud of our journey, no one believed us there. »
Corinne Deacon’s players now intend to digest the failure and then get up, stronger than ever. Kadidiatou Diani, also at the microphone of Canal +: “The main regrets, I think it is above all the lack of efficiency, even today. Unfortunately, it happens, but we will learn from it for the next competitions. And Bacha concludes: “The next step will be to aim for the final. You have to believe in it, don’t give up. »