The history of team sports is paved with nations which, one day, forgot the fundamental values of their discipline by taking out their calculator. With, in mind, the objective of avoiding such an opponent in a future match or of obtaining a supposedly more affordable table during the knockout phase.
Except that, by denying the spirit of competition, these teams have sometimes paid dearly for this lack of ambition and respect. A mistake that Hervé Renard does not want to see his troops commit this Wednesday (12 p.m., France 2) against Panama. “There is no calculation to be made for the future, thus affirmed the hexagonal coach. The only thing we have to do is approach this match as we approached the previous two, by being conquerors, with the objective of finishing first in this group. Let’s focus on us. And then fate will choose.”
It is also true that, beyond respecting Panama and a competition as prestigious as the World Cup, the France team has no reason to be proud when approaching this last match. from a group F that could have escaped them after their disappointing inaugural draw against Jamaica (0-0). Fortunately, last Saturday, galvanized by the pre-match chat full of fury and passion from their coach (see below), the Blues were able to get back on track against Brazil (2-1) . And, even if the first place is now reaching out to him in the event of success against the modest 52nd team in the Fifa ranking, already eliminated after their setbacks against the Brazilians (0-4) and the Jamaicans (0-1), Hervé Renard does not lose sight of the accounting reality of the day: “What must be taken into consideration is that we are not qualified. We only have 4 points. Let’s stay focused.”
A message that obviously went well with his players, listening to his striker Kadidiatou Diani: “We talked enough between us after Jamaica, we were really lifted, we mobilized and we reacted well. I felt things that I had never felt before in selection. We were really determined. And I think we are in the same state of mind to face Panama and achieve our goals. Who is to reach at least the last four and thus do better than in 2019, when the United States had brutally put an end to the excitement surrounding the course of the Blue, in the quarter-finals (1-2) a World Cup organized in France.
It doesn’t matter that Colombia, by beating Germany (2-1) in the group brought to cross that of France in the round of 16, undoubtedly sent the Mannschaft on the road of Eugénie Le Sommer and her partners in case of first place in their group. The important thing, this Wednesday on the lawn of the Sydney stadium, will be to maintain the dynamic born of this success against the Brazilians.
Without underestimating Panama, Hervé Renard should nevertheless keep an eye on the future by making some changes to his starting lineup, even if he said on Tuesday: “There are teams that have played with the same players in their three games. A top-level player is capable of renewing efforts.” So don’t expect massive turnover. But, after the calf alert which almost made her miss the shock against Brazil, captain Wendie Renard could be wisely preserved against Panamanians in difficulty on the offensive level in this World Cup (no goals scored). In the middle, who gave a lot against the Auriverde by exerting a suffocating pressing, it is also possible that the coach decides to blow some Blue. From kick-off or during the game? That is the whole point when you say you don’t want to calculate.