It’s also back to school for the blues. The French national team returned to the stadiums a little more than a month after its exit from the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Australia. The trio faced Portugal on Friday, September 22, at the Hainaut Stadium in Valenciennes, on the first day of the UEFA Nations League. Without brilliance, they won 2-0. This live stream has now ended.
Historical precedent. The Blues are playing their first match in the UEFA Nations League, a brand new competition on the women’s calendar. Like those for men, the League of Nations pits all European teams against each other in leagues and level groups, with a promotion and relegation system. The key to getting the best selections is the qualifying places for major international competitions.
The beginning of the season leading up to the Olympic Games. This is the first match of the 2023-2024 season for the French national team, and it is a big exercise because it will take the players to the Olympics on their home soil. Having automatically qualified as the host team, the Blues want to prepare as best as possible for ten months to arrive in Paris in good condition in July 2024. Because the goal is already clear: to win Olympic gold on home soil.
Return from injury. French coach Hervé Renard did not make any major changes to his roster compared to the group that left for Australia. But he recorded the return of several players who returned from injuries in recent weeks. This is the case with Amandine Henry and Orien Jean-François, who had to withdraw during preparation. This is also the case for Gregg Mbok, who suffered a serious knee injury in September 2022.
