Will all 23 players in Dublin be fit to play on Thursday? Hervé Renard: All 23 will be fit for tomorrow (Thursday). There are somewhat disparate states of form. What you have to take into account is that we are at the end of the 17th day of preparation, there are 16 left, we will have to pay close attention to the playing time. We prepare for it before, we put things in place with the staff so that we don’t put certain players in the red. For others, who at this time need to start playing a little more, with a higher intensity, it’s a perfect time to play a warm-up match. Afterwards, a preparation match remains a training match but in a context that is more like competition.
Can you come back to Oriane Jean-François’ package and the choice to dismiss Aïssatou Tounkara and Mylène Chavas? About Oriane, I’ve said a lot of very good things about her since March, she’s young, she showed great maturity. First she talked a lot with the doctor, then we saw each other and she also showed honesty towards the group, and that is also a characteristic to mention. We thank her. We wish her that she recovers as quickly and as best as possible, that she takes care of herself. But we have enough to do without her in this group, a lot of qualities in midfield and a lot of versatile players. Aissatou was a special case. The deal between us was very clear. She was herself, she worked well, she showed a remarkable state of mind, the proof she decided to travel with us to Dublin. She had an emotional speech in front of the group, it proves the unity. For the goalkeepers, there are elements that I cannot all mention, at the technical level, which in my opinion were too important. We will talk about it during the competition.
What is Amandine Henry’s form, lacking playing time during the second half of the season? I’m not worried at all, I’m happy to have an experienced player, who knows exactly the frame , what she can bring to this team. The important thing is that she focuses on herself first in this preparation, that she comes back and feels high level sensations. And afterwards, his experience will make the difference in the key moments of the competition. It is important that each one knows what their exact role is, and in any case each of them can replace another. There is quality and versatility. They know they have qualities, but not up to their immense potential. So we repeat so that they know that there is no limit. They can reach a limit not yet reached with the France team.
