The knowing glances, whether exchanged with her teammates or with the staff, do not deceive: Marine Johannès (1.78 m, 29 years old), mischievous, experiences with undisguised joy her return to the French team ten months later the controversy arising from her non-selection for Euro 2023 (because she wanted, during preparation, to make a jump to the United States and the WNBA). From Xi’An (China), where the Blues must compete in a TQO without stakes, the back confided his desire to plan for the Paris Olympics.
“Almost a year after your last appearance in blue, you are back in the group. How are you experiencing this reunion after a year 2023 marked by this non-selection for Euro 2023?
I’m really happy to see the group again. It’s been a long time, I even have the impression that the absence lasted more than a year. I’m in a state of mind where I just want to get back to the jersey, the girls, the training sessions, the matches. Plus, we’re playing a TQO even though we’re already qualified, which gives a bit of a special flavor to this reunion. It’s special but it’s finally the right time to reunite with the France team. We want to win our matches but also to work. There is less pressure: it is a meeting which serves as Olympic preparation, and there will be no need to worry. I want to find my automatisms again, and win. This has been the speech since the start of the meeting, for the whole team.
“We all agree that we must move forward”
Is your absence from last summer definitely over?
For my part, like that of the Federation, we have moved on. We have called each other quite a bit with Jean-Pierre (Siutat, president of the FFBB) over the past year. We all agree that we must move forward. I’m here today, that’s good news. My goal was to compete in the Games, so being in the group is an interesting first step for the future. This is what pleases me the most.
Did you ever fear not being able to compete in the Paris Games?
It never took on these proportions. There has never been any irritation in our discussions with the staff and the Federation in recent months. Above all, there was room for discussion. It required adaptation, on my side as well. I don’t like staying on bad terms with people, you never know what might happen. I was sad not to be with the team for the Euro. We each made our own lives, but I think there will be some positives in being with the Blues!
“There is a real desire to start work for the Games”
In a TQO context which resembles a first preparation for the Games, how is the gathering and return to the group going?
We have twelve players who get along really well, on and off the field. Cohesion, alchemy, these are elements that Jean-Aimé (Toupane, the coach) places a lot of emphasis on. I find it quite good, he even regularly asks us to call each other (laughs). It’s a question of establishing a team culture, of continuing to get to know each other, of supporting each other in difficult times. In the French team, we are asked to do things that we are not used to doing at club level. You have to accept your role, understand it. And it can be difficult, for everyone.
The group convened largely resembles the one that could compete in the Games?
This is what many people said when the announcement of the twelve was made. There is surely truth, with a few ready elements, and possible injuries. We’ll see. Aimé chose a high-performance group whereas for a tournament without stakes, he could have called on younger people to test them. There is a real desire to start work for the Games. With the return of Alix (Duchet), that of Gabby (Williams) and mine, it makes things interesting, it will allow us to see where we are. We are not going to come out of this TQO knowing what we can aim to do at the Games. Journalists will perhaps take care of these predictions. We are not going to revolutionize the game of the France team in one week. Last summer, good foundations were laid, we will continue on this path. »
