This text is a part of the Guardian’s Euro 2025 Consultants’ Community, a cooperation between among the greatest media organisations from the 16 nations who certified. theguardian.com is working previews from two groups every day within the run-up to the event kicking off on 2 July.
Overview
France arrive in Switzerland in type. They received all six video games of their Nations League group – the primary staff ever to take action – and have been first to qualify for this event. Targets have been flowing and the defence has been strong. Nonetheless, main tournaments and France don’t usually go collectively; they’re but to win the Euros, World Cup or the Olympics. With this in thoughts the coach, Laurent Bonadei, who was Hervé Renard’s assistant till August 2024, describes France as outsiders.
Just a few weeks earlier than the event the coach made the novel choice to omit three extremely skilled gamers: the captain, Wendie Renard, the vice-captain Eugénie Le Sommer, France’s most capped participant, and Kenza Dali. They have been key members of the dressing room. “I would like completely different outcomes for this staff so I’ve gone with a unique choice,” he stated. Paris Saint-Germain’s Griedge Mbock is the brand new captain.
France are in a tricky group with England, Netherlands and Wales however goal to achieve the ultimate for the primary time. The regeneration of the squad may be seen in each space: six gamers haven’t any main event expertise. Current tournaments noticed them lose a semi-final to Germany at Euro 2022, a quarter-final on penalties in opposition to Australia on the 2023 World Cup, earlier than a quarter-final exit in opposition to Brazil at their house Olympics.
Bonadei has returned to a 4-3-3 formation after experimenting with 3-4-3 when first appointed, a system he dumped after a 4-2 defeat by Spain in December. In assault Les Bleues can rely on the pace of Sandy Baltimore and Kadidiatou Diani and so they appear to have re-established their defensive power due to the rising partnership of Mbock and Maëlle Lakrar at centre-back.
The most effective efficiency of the Bonadei period got here in a 4-0 dismantling of the event hosts Switzerland 5 weeks earlier than the event. “It was an ideal night as a result of we didn’t concede a objective and we scored 4,” Bonadei stated. “We additionally hit the woodwork twice. We’re approaching 800 passes, with a 71% possession charge, which is what I requested of them.” This isn’t the time for them to get overconfident, although, as a result of France have misplaced their form in high-stakes video games earlier than.
The coach
Laurent Bonadei. Assistant to Renard for the 2023 World Cup and Paris Olympics, Bonadei was promoted to No 1 in August 2024, his first expertise as a head coach of a senior facet. The French soccer federation selected “continuity” regardless of lower than very best outcomes at these two tournaments, and gave him a three-year contract. The previous Toulon midfielder is a coach who develops gamers, after his expertise with PSG’s youth groups and Good’s B staff. When he took cost, Bonadei talked about setting up “a life undertaking” somewhat than a “sport undertaking” and to type a tight-knit group with gamers who had beforehand skilled tensions in camp. The gamers have praised his human contact, and have appreciated that he travelled to see a lot of them at their golf equipment.
Star participant
In a squad missing stardust Sakina Karchaoui is the best-known and most recognised particular person. Certainly, the Paris Saint-Germain participant just lately turned one in all France’s vice-captains, displaying her rising affect. Her place has additionally modified, with the left-back usually deployed in midfield. “As a left-back I used to be so large that I wasn’t proud of it and Bonadei needed me to be extra central to what we do,” she stated. As we speak, one in all Karchaoui’s major goals is to assist the youthful gamers and cross on her expertise. In addition to ensuring France win that first main title.
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One to look at
The 27-year-old Paris FC striker Clara Mateo is having the perfect season of her profession. She was once primarily a proper winger however now performs as a false 9 and has began to rack up the objectives. She scored 18 within the 2024-25 league marketing campaign, including seven assists, which made her the highest scorer, and greatest participant, within the Première Ligue. Fairly a turnaround for a participant who was not picked for the 2024 Olympics by Renard. She has two objectives and an help in her previous 5 appearances for France and is now difficult Marie-Antoinette Katoto for a beginning spot. “It’s a mirrored image of the season I’ve had,” she stated. “I’ve been decisive with my membership and that’s right down to the arrogance I’ve in myself for the time being. I’m very completely happy that it’s working with the French staff too.”
Possible lineup
Standing of home prime flight
The Première Ligue turned skilled at first of the 2024-25 season, however two groups, Lyon and PSG, had accomplished that milestone way back. The gamers don’t but have a collective settlement however are paid at the very least the minimal wage (£1,148 a month). The extent is enhancing however Lyon are nonetheless dominating, and completed final season 10 factors forward of second-placed PSG. France collectively did not capitalise on a house World Cup in 2019 and continues to be behind in its improvement of girls’s soccer, whether or not when it comes to attendances (common 1,610, behind England, Spain and Germany), broadcasting (two weekend matches on TV) and the funding in girls’s soccer. In consequence, many younger gamers transfer overseas whereas some golf equipment corresponding to Dijon, Le Havre, Reims and Montpellier are even trying to promote their girls’s sections to chop prices.
Practical goal in Switzerland
Semi-finals once more. Les Bleues could also be within the group of dying with England and the Netherlands however have proven a brand new collective power and will proceed to the knockouts. As soon as there they could face Germany, historically their bête noire at main tournaments.