Paris 2024 Olympics: tests, “dream training”… at the heart of the physical preparation of the Bleues

A little hiccup at startup. Affected by Covid, Selma Bacha moved to the Château de Clairefontaine 48 hours late. Proof that the virus has not yet disappeared and that it will have to be taken into account for the next fifty days before a potential final of the Olympic Games, on August 10 at the Parc des Princes. Now negative, the Lyonnaise was able to start work alongside the 25 teammates selected by coach Hervé Renard in his pre-list. A group which will be reduced to 23 for the two qualifying matches for Euro 2025 then to 22 (18 + 4 reserves) for the Olympic tournament.

While waiting for these deadlines, it’s time to prepare. “We have an advantage over last year: experience. For fifteen months, the players have integrated the project, the principles, the methodology. It’s a big advantage, a time saver and it brings fluidity to the work”, explains Thomas Pavillon, physical trainer of the Bleues. Eighteen players out of the 26 called up this year were already present in the pre-list before the 2023 World Cup in Australia. This base knows the expectations of Hervé Renard and is not starting from scratch with a staff in place since the beginning of April 2023.

The end of the season was tough for the international organizations, as for Grace Geyoro whose real cuts have become rare since the summer of 2021. Between the evening of June 4 and the arrival in Clairefontaine last Monday at 10 a.m., the Bleues were entitled to a vacation. But with a program to respect. “With several aspects,” explains Thomas Pavillon. First, prevention work specific to each, then a common base for all the dominant physical aspects before another more specific part to move towards football recovery. » And last Monday, time for tests in collaboration with the medical staff.

“They have extraordinary mental capacities”

“They are simple: we take an individual assessment to see where the players are at the cardiac, muscular and physiological level,” adds Thomas Pavillon. These tests allow us to have a real image at the moment. They also allow us to personalize the work according to the players. The second point is that at the same time last year, we carried out the same tests. We therefore have a comparison over a long period. » Which allows us to scan the impacts of a season as closely as possible and not force cases at risk.

Never has a French team experienced such a period: namely 48 days between June 24 and August 10, the date of a possible final, made up of physical preparation, official qualifying matches for a Euro and an Olympic tournament. “We are taking up the objectives set by the coach,” recalls Thomas Pavillon. The first step is to qualify for Euro 2025, and we will have to perform in these matches. We will then plan for the other phase, that of the Olympic Games.”

A point which also means, this year, the absence of cohesion games as was the case in the summer of 2023 in the presence of the military. Last Wednesday, the break with “dream training” in the presence of young children was welcome. With another factor to take into account: the mentality of the players, put to the test for those who will have to leave the group or the reserves, who will not be eligible for medals.

“They are professional,” reassures Sabrina Viguier, ex-international who works in pairs with Thomas Pavillon. They have extraordinary mental abilities. The reserves will be part of the group even if they will not be on the match sheet. They will be ready to integrate this sheet if necessary. Experiencing the Olympics, even as a reservist, is perhaps only once. When you are a competitor, you have to stay present. A lot can happen. »

Hervé Renard must announce to the International Olympic Committee the 22 selected (18 + 4) on July 3. The general public will be informed on July 8. But the 26 must give everything between now and then to get a ticket for the Olympics. They have never been so close.