“No one saw us coming out of the hens”: the refrain launched by Alexia Chartereau returned to all the mouths of the French women questioned in the corridors of the Sydney Superdome after the -honorable- defeat conceded against a very strong Chinese team, collectively experienced in long time.
A statement that is undoubtedly excessive but which sets the framework for the assessment of these Bleues 2022: they have not done better than their five predecessors, all eliminated at this stage of the World Cup, but were undoubtedly much less equipped.
Private to injury (Gruda, Miyem, Epoupa, Duchet, Johannès) or personal choice (Vukosavljevic) of half of the Olympic bronze medalist squad in Tokyo, coach Jean-Aimé Toupane did with the means at hand, in a “chicken of death” which left Japan, Olympic vice-champion, on the floor.
All this while the France team was starting from very far, after the last missed international meetings in November – heavy defeat against Ukraine – then in February – setback against Nigeria and by more than 30 points. gap against China.
– “State of mind” –
Toupane, appointed in the fall of 2021 to replace Valérie Garnier to stimulate a new game and a new dynamic for the 2024 Olympics, therefore said he was satisfied with the progress made.
“We are there in terms of dynamics, the state of mind is good. We will continue to work, the girls have understood the importance of values, sharing, willpower. We are in the process of creating a soul”, he pointed out.
“We want to have a strong identity in terms of determination, self-sacrifice, courage. What I saw tonight (Thursday), that sums it all up,” he added.
The interior Alexia Chartereau abounds (“we created a team, a soul”), like Marine Fauthoux, symbol of this rising youth: at 21, she scored against the Chinese her record of points in selection (19).
“When we see that Marine (Johannès) stayed with us throughout the competition (despite her injury, editor’s note), it shows the state of mind of this team”, illustrates the leader, who projects herself towards a bright future.
“We showed a new face, fresher, younger. For the future, we are not afraid, we are rather confident, we tell ourselves that if we move forward like this and continue to work, it can really do wrong.”
Around Fauthoux, the other representatives of the 2001 generation, Iliana Rupert and Kendra Chéry, as well as Ana Tadic, older (24 years old) but still relatively inexperienced at international level, will also have accumulated experience.
– Absentees to integrate –
For the future, this group, which will have to gain in consistency, will be reinforced by the absentees, who will however have to “take the bandwagon”, noted Alexia Chartereau.
“It also shows that no one is essential to the France team, even if it’s hard to say when there is a lack of sacred players like (…) on this tournament”, added the interior of 24 year.
“There is a team. We are not going to tell the players who have done the work leave”, supported Toupane, whose game plan, based on heavy defensive pressure and fast play, is taking shape. The rebound sector, on the other hand, is under construction.
The France team will have the opportunity to continue learning the Toupane method fairly quickly, with two qualifying matches for Euro-2023 on November 24 and 27 (against Finland and Ukraine).
“We must use these moments to continue to grow, to win the two matches, then after there will be the European championships, where we will have a card to play,” said Chartereau.
She also has Paris-2024 in mind, the ultimate “objective” of this team which is returning from Australia full of promise.
