It's already time to conclude the year 2024 for the Blues. Falling to Nigeria in a friendly match on Saturday (2-1), the French women's team now turns to Spain, whom it faces this Tuesday at 9 p.m. at the Allianz Riviera in Nice. Wendie Renard's teammates meet the reigning world champions to prepare for the Nations League in February, but especially Euro 2025 which will take place from July 2 to 27 in Switzerland. The draw for the group stage will take place on December 16.
Against Nigeria, during their first meeting of this international break, Laurent Bonadei's players, still in training, did the job (2-1). A performance marked by the return of Amel Majri (31 years old, 74 caps), who had not been called up for the French team for nine months. The number 7 of Olympique Lyonnais put in a very good performance and found the net for the first time since 2021 in blue.
Against Spain, it will still be a different story. La Roja gave France a football lesson in the Nations League final last February, notably thanks to double Golden Ball winner Aitana Bonmatí (2-0).
“Ten months ago, it was another coach and another way of thinking. We know that the Spanish like to have a lot of the ball. We must not let them play as we did, we must show ourselves and not put them in this comfort,” Selma Bacha warned AFP.
Less in sight since the Paris 2024 Olympics, where it was ranked 4th, apart from a victory against South Korea in a friendly on Friday (5-0), Spain has accumulated absences. Coach Montserrat Tomé has in fact chosen to do without Jenni Hermoso and Irene Paredes, absent for non-sporting reasons, and will also have to cope without Alexia Putellas, injured in the left calf.
After this last friendly meeting, the Blues will be entitled to a three-month break from the selection, before meeting again in February for the League of Nations where they will meet Iceland, Norway and Switzerland in the group stage.
