Hervé Renard (coach): “It’s a great game to get going on Australian soil. That there are a lot of people against the host country of the World Cup is good, it’s a good test. We are going to be pushed around a bit, that’s good, it will allow us to get into the competition”.
Grace Geyoro (vice-captain): “It’s going to be the best way to prepare, it’s going to be exactly the same context (as in the competition). Playing in front of 50,000 people is always more fun, and against the host country it’s not nothing. It will be up to us to focus on what we want to put in place”.
Grace Geyoro: “(After the long flight from France) there were one or two days that were a bit complicated, of course, because of the jet lag. We had trouble finishing our nights. But the staff has put everything in place to try to recover well, for example by putting breakfasts a little earlier. Today it’s much better, we manage to get into the rhythm.
Grace Geyoro: “We always had a really good group atmosphere, between the players. What makes the difference (since the change of staff) is that we have this connection with the staff which is quite natural. We have this ability to exchange quite naturally with him, it’s a plus. We need that to go as far as possible, we need this state of mind, this soul. We are going to spend 40 days together, we must succeed in creating this force, this unity”.
Hervé Renard: “They have qualities, my job was to tell them that there is no better team than them. Now they have to have a strong character, like the USA for example. Americans, they’re not afraid of anyone. You have to believe in yourself, if this team believes in itself, it will make a fantastic World Cup. We created this trust, now the key is in their hands.
Hervé Renard: “The absentees, we wished them a good recovery. But all the girls who are there are able to supplement each other. We are gradually approaching a starting eleven. Tomorrow’s match will be different from that of Jamaica (at the opening of the World Cup, July 23). Some are not at the top right now, they need to play, and I’m sure in ten days they will be. There will be no huge upheavals. We have plenty of quality, players capable of playing in several different positions. It’s important to have a group that is mixed, that we can count on a lot of players. Elisa De Almeida started the preparation eight days later, it will be important for her to play 60 or 70 minutes. Kadi Diani is the same, I hope she will play more than against Ireland. It is important to prepare the players as well as possible”.