While the Bleues extended their last pre-match training session by a good half hour, with 5-on-5 matches, the session ended with… a three-point air ball from Alexia Chery. The eighteen players led by Jean-Aimé Toupane ended up heading to the weight room to the sound of “J’irai où tu iras” by Céline Dion, blaring from a portable speaker in a very quiet Vendéspace. Even the press – local and national – did not answer the call for the conference on the eve of the launch of the French team’s preparation matches for the Paris Games.
The double confrontation planned against Finland, this Saturday evening (9 p.m.) and Monday (9 p.m.) does not arouse real enthusiasm: the enclosure, which the French internationals had not frequented since 2013 and the Euro negotiated at home (silver medal), will not be full (3,500 spectators expected out of 4,000 possible, 3,000 Monday). The quality of the opponent – whom France beat by an average of 43 points (and 94.5 points scored) over their last four confrontations – does not invite strong emotions to be anticipated.
Validate impressions regarding the composition of the selected
What does it matter for the Marine Johannès gang, most smiling and relaxed this Friday: this first test match, in a series of five – of which the first three (with Serbia, in Lyon, on July 12) will probably not offer not an adversity worthy of the Olympic leaders -, must allow “to finally measure oneself against players other than those in the group, with other game systems” appreciates Chery. For his coach, who recalls “that at this time of preparation, the Olympic teams were not available to face us at home”, the challenge of the Vendée weekend is twofold: “Allow a squad review after seeing the eighteen girls give their all,” he asks first, and above all validate the impressions as to the composition of the twelve who will see the first round of the Olympics in Lille (entry into the running on July 29 against Canada).
“I will be able to put fourteen players on the match sheet,” reveals the coach, who will distribute the playing time as closely as possible. One golden rule will remain for his flock: “The intensity on the field must never drop.” Which the expected gap in level between the two teams must strongly challenge.
At the end of the second confrontation, the group, which has already been working for three weeks, will be reduced by three elements to drop to fifteen. But in reality, it will be a “12 + 3” since when the time comes to meet up in the Rhône next Saturday, the list of the Games will have to be submitted by the French staff to the CNOSF (which will make it official on July 8). An important date, which will also allow “to start refining the automatisms with those who will form this project to go all the way” underlines Chery. Finland will therefore have the merit of establishing itself as the last possible revealer for those who, after two expected victories, have every interest in scoring points, on both sides of the field.
