After the tears, the French players realized: “We were eliminated by a better team.” One hopes for the future. With the same trainer?
When the first tears had dried, Kadidiatou was able to analyze Diani very objectively again: “We met a German team that caused us a lot of problems, especially in the first half. Congratulations to them, quite simply,” said the ultra-fast one France striker, who had provoked the interim 1:1 – an own goal by the German goalkeeper Merle Frohms – with a class individual performance.
“L’Equipe” put the end against Germany more impressively: “The dream has died. Defeated by a double strike from Alexandra Popp, France fails in front of the doors of the European Championship final. The French put up a fierce fight against the Germans, but it turned into a graveyard their illusions.”
“We will learn from this”
The 27-year-old Diani, who was voted France’s “Player of the Year” in 2021, had another explanation for her team’s bitter failure: “The main problem with us was above all the lack of efficiency. Unfortunately, that’s what happened, but we will learn from it.”
This analysis was not entirely correct, because it was more due to the enormously well-functioning German tactics that the French were not able to put their horsepower on the road as they had been able to do in the course of the tournament. The two wing players Diani and above all Delphine Cascarino were almost completely isolated from the French game.
The daily newspaper “Courrier de l’Ouest” also saw it this way: “France paid for the lack of freshness and the lack of a goal threat. The Bleues were given a tactical lesson and they had to leave the tournament frustrated and disappointed.”
Cascarino on the siding
“Sure, we’re also proud to have represented France in a semi-final again after a long time. But the disappointment is huge. It hurts,” said Cascarino. The 25-year-old had delivered by far her weakest tournament performance and was substituted after a good hour.
Spectators only: France’s footballers cheering in Germany
Dianis and above all Cascarinos ineffectiveness was a result of almost perfect German defensive work. All the rooms that are usually used and run through by the two sprinters were always blocked.
“We found a great team”
And so Corinna Diacre, the French trainer, was also quite fair: “Today we came across a great team: powerful, athletic, efficient.” At the same time, the coach was already looking ahead: “We gave everything, but it didn’t work, especially in the second half when we created chances. We lost efficiency again. It wasn’t to be and the wait goes on. But the foundation is solid.”
The next few days will show whether she will be able to build on this foundation as a trainer. Corinne Diacre is considered an iron-hard lady and has made many opponents in France in the past with her style. “Punctual means to her on time. When you enter a building, you take off your hat. And your bottle is your bottle and you don’t leave it lying around.” This is how a former teammate of Corinne Diacre summed up their principles three years ago.
Corinne Diacre – will she stay?
Nothing has changed to this day. The soon to be 48-year-old from a suburb of Lille also knows no mercy when it comes to personnel decisions. Big names don’t count for much with her. After the home World Cup in 2019, where the “Bleues” failed in the quarterfinals against the USA (1: 2), captain and playmaker Amandine Henry dared to criticize what she saw as “granite-hard and tactless” approach by Diacre.
She didn’t forgive that and banished Henry from the national team – in a phone call of 14 or 15 seconds, as she later said. “I will never forget that for the rest of my life. I was shocked.” It seems quite possible that this mood will blow Diacre’s ears after the end.