In 2019, Laurent Bonadei was still the coach of the OGC Nice reserve. Five years later, he returned to his adopted city as coach of the French women's team for a gala friendly match against reigning world champion Spain (2023). “It’s a real pleasure, a pride and an honor to come back here. There’s also a bit of nostalgia”smiled the man who was Hervé Renard's deputy before agreeing to succeed him last August.
If this recognized trainer is here on conquered ground, the Bleues are in reconquest after the disappointment of the Olympic Games, where they exited through the back door in the quarter-finals (eliminated by Brazil).
The new cycle started by Laurent Bonadei, without revolutionizing everything but with new ideas, should ultimately allow them to win back people's hearts (less than 10,000 spectators are expected this Tuesday evening) and to place themselves back in the world hierarchy (they have dropped to 10th place in the FIFA rankings).
A revenge to take
Still under reconstruction, in a new 3-4-3 system that they seem to assimilate well, the teammates of Eugénie Le Sommer (absent from the last training and very uncertain) will have the opportunity to test themselves this evening against this which is getting better, even if the Spanish, caught up in extra-sporting affairs, seem a little less sovereign since this summer. They will be deprived of the stars Putellas, Paralluelo or even the young nugget Vicky Lopez but “It would be a lack of respect for them to say that they are weakened, believes the coach. It's a team that has plenty of fuel. Whatever the individuals, it will always be a difficult team to maneuver.”
Bonadei knows something about this, he who, as assistant, had helplessly watched the lost Nations League final (2-0) last February. “A difficult match to live through” as the French seemed without a solution (0 shots on target). As if paralyzed by fear. This time, you will have to be much more ambitious in the game.
“It is important that we realize that we have quality and that we can also pose problems for them. We have to focus on ourselves and not make a mountain out of this team, points out the coach, who wants to see his troops “compete in ball use and possession”.
The 2-1 victory against Nigeria on Saturday in the Angevin fog showed great promise. That France will have to extend this last friendly of the year to confirm that it is right and on the right path. Because with the Nations League (from February) then the Euro this summer, the rest of the program will quickly intensify.
The probable compositions
France
Peyraud Magnin – Le Guilly, Renard (c), E. Cascarino – D. Cascarino, Jean-François, Geyoro, Bacha – Diani, Katoto, Mateo
Spain
Coll – Batlle, Mendez, Codina, Carmona – Bonmati (c), Abdelleira, Guijarro – Caldentey, Sarriegi, Claudia Pina
At the state'
6. Les Bleues will play in the Alpes-Maritimes for the sixth time in their history.
