“I think a lot about this World Cup but I think we shouldn’t stress too much either. Yes, there is pressure, as with every major competition. But there is no need to add more. At the beginning of July, in Clairefontaine, Pauline Peyraud Magnin wanted to be relaxed before flying to Australia to play the first World Cup of her career as number 1 goalkeeper, she who had lived the 2019 edition in the shadow of Sarah Bouhaddi. A shadow from which she emerged a year later, when the Lyonnaise, breaking her ban with coach Corinne Deacon, decided to step back from life in the selection, leaving a boulevard to the one who had just joined the Atletico Madrid. An opportunity that the young woman, then 28 years old, did not pass up…
Until the start of this World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where surprisingly, she struggles to convince and reassure. Especially in one sector, kicking, which she nevertheless considers to be one of her strengths. Even against Brazil (2-1), which has established itself as the reference match for Les Bleues since the start of the competition, Pauline Peyraud Magnin was one of the few to be disappointed by her approximations in recovery, or her hesitations to to go out. Certainly, on the four goals conceded so far by the Blue in this World Cup, its direct responsibility is not engaged on any. But it does not exude a serenity capable of reassuring its partners. Even if Hervé Renard ruled out the idea of playing competition against Panama by launching Constance Picaud. “The position of goalkeeper is a special position. What must be taken into consideration is that before this third game, we are not qualified. So, it’s not at all the same way to approach it as when you’ve already qualified for the next round, with zero pressure.
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In other words, in the mind of the coach, it was necessary to keep PPM in the costume of the number 1 for this match at stake. History, no doubt, not to add doubt to doubt before the round of 16 where the Blue will challenge Morocco this Tuesday (1:00 p.m.). A coach on whom the current goalkeeper of Juventus Turin is full of praise: “He changed several things upon his arrival. For example, he spoke very clearly about the question of maternity for certain players. He also banged his fist on the table to remind us that we were also counting, which made me happy. I knew him because I’m also interested in men’s football and obviously the first thing I had in mind about him was his talks. I was eager to hear the same and I had not been disappointed during the first course. He knows how to galvanize us and I really like it when a coach uses strong words like he does. It brings a new look and symbolizes a form of renewal. The atmosphere is peaceful, there are more smiles, serenity in the group. When we see renowned girls like Amandine or Eugénie, whom I knew when I started in Lyon at the age of 16, return, it gives confidence and it is a pleasure to find them again.
At Olympique Lyonnais, Pauline Peyraud Magnin will never have succeeded in winning, barred by a certain… Sarah Bouhaddi, again her. To make her hole, the Rhodanienne had to wait to be loaned to emancipate and mature, her friend and teammate in the selection Solène Durand described thus, with a smile: “He is someone with a particular character. Or to put it another way, Pauline lives in her own world. In Issy, then in Saint-Étienne and finally in Marseille, the little bird Peyraud Magnin made his nest and demonstrated his talent, heading for England and Arsenal. Alas, there again, she must be content with a regular role as a substitute, just like in Madrid. This does not prevent it from being in the small papers of Corinne Deacon. Its real outbreak at the highest level, PPM will know it at Juve, where it quickly wins unanimous support and takes on a new dimension, confirmed during Euro 2022 that France ends with a defeat in the semi-finals against Germany (1-2). But during this competition, the goalkeeper demonstrates that she has the perfect level to be the number 1. A performance that is all the more remarkable as she experienced a real drama on a personal level at the start of the competition, with the disappearance of His wife.
With her performances, the Frenchwoman has helped to change the – negative – image of goalkeepers, who are often considered to be the weakest links in women’s football. “I am happy to have made my position evolve, on my small scale. If I was able to bring my stone to the building, yes, I am proud of it, ”she confided to us at Clairefontaine. Before clarifying: “This position has evolved over time, and it had to. Maybe it’s the one that took the longest because it’s the most technical. We must both use our feet, but also our hands, our head. It is a very complete position, which needed special attention, which has long been neglected in women’s football. But today it has changed. Over the past 5-6 years, there has been a real positive development with now specific coaches on the job.
Changing mentalities, Pauline Peyraud Magnin would also like to achieve this on another ground, that of homophobia. Having never hidden her homosexuality, the young woman knows that the subject, which “should not even be one” according to her, is moreover more complicated depending on whether one is a footballer or a footballer. “Less taboos, it depends for whom. We’re not going to lie to each other, it’s more complicated for men to reveal their homosexuality. For me, it’s always a subject that we have to talk about, precisely to stop talking about it in the long run. Marinette (Pichon) fought for that and today, on my level, I try to do the same because I think it’s important to be kind and respect others. That’s why I’ve never had any problem coming to terms with my homosexuality. When people ask me about it, I simply answer. I don’t need to lie. Then, I don’t judge those who may be afraid to talk about it. But the more words will be released on the subject, the more normality will have become, even if I hate this word. We must no longer be in the taboo.
