France Women's National Football Team Gears Up for Euro 2025 with Fresh Ambition and Strategy
France women's national football team prepares with renewed ambition for Euro 2025, targeting semifinal success.
Key Points
- • France enters Euro 2025 as an ambitious outsider with eight consecutive wins.
- • Head coach Laurent Bonadei emphasizes mental preparation and overcoming historical hurdles.
- • The squad features fresh dynamics following the exclusion of veteran players.
- • Players remain optimistic about future prospects beyond the upcoming Euro.
As the Euro 2025 approaches, the France women's national football team is entering the tournament with renewed ambition despite being viewed as underdogs. Having secured eight consecutive victories this season, including an impressive 5-0 win over Belgium and a thrilling 3-2 comeback against Brazil, the team's morale is high. Their head coach, Laurent Bonadei, who took the reins in August 2024, has clearly outlined the team's ambitions, setting a minimum target of reaching the semifinals, as emphasized by Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation (FFF).
France has drawn a challenging group D, often termed the 'group of death', which includes strong contenders England, the Netherlands, and Wales. Bonadei acknowledges the historical struggles the team has faced in major tournaments, where they have never advanced beyond the semifinals. He stated, "For me, the number one enemy is ourselves," and is focused on encouraging his players to concentrate on their own game rather than succumbing to external pressures.
To bolster the squad's mental resilience, Bonadei has enlisted mental coach Thomas Sammut, whose role is to enhance players' psychological readiness, building on a successful Nations League campaign that has returned confidence to the squad. In a bold move to break longstanding detrimental patterns, Bonadei has made significant roster alterations, dropping veteran players Wendie Renard, Eugénie Le Sommer, and Kenza Dali. This strategy aims to inject new energy into the team and align with Bonadei's philosophy inspired by Einstein's principle on the futility of repeating the same action and expecting different outcomes.
Despite the inexperience that may characterize this youthful squad, optimism prevails. Defender Sakina Karchaoui expressed that while the Euro might not culminate in immediate success, the experience gained could forge a platform for a more formidable performance at the 2027 World Cup. As preparations intensify, the French team is not just looking to participate in Euro 2025 but is determined to overcome historical barriers and establish themselves on a significant international stage for the first time.