"Laurent Bonadei has two typical teams": Amandine Miquel impressed by the depth of the French team's bench at the Euro

"What is your overall analysis of France's victory against Wales (4-1)? It was a very controlled performance, against a nation that is not, it must be said, ultra-efficient, so it was quite expected. Afterwards, what is very positive is the good distribution of playing time, given the number of changes compared to the team that started against England (2-1) on Saturday (7 changes in the starting eleven between the two matches) . Through this match against the Welsh, Laurent Bonadei proves that he practically has two typical teams. Because he could also have, for example, changed the goalkeeper, by starting (Constance) Picaud in place of (Pauline) Peyraud-Magnin, without France's level dropping. Afterwards, I understand why he did not make this decision: the goalkeeper position remains separate.

Precisely, among the players who started against the Welsh, and who had not been a starter against England, who do you think scored points? (Clara) Mateo obviously. I am happy for her because this performance follows on from her very good season with Paris FC. She provided an assist (on Amel Majri's goal, 53rd, 3-0) , she scored a goal (1-0, 8th) and she could have scored others. She is a discreet but very effective player. For me, after this match, Mateo can apply to be a starter again in this Euro, because she offers a very different profile to that of (Marie-Antoinette) Katoto. Depending on the team facing her, depending on the game that France intends to develop, it would not shock me if she starts against an opponent stronger than Wales.

Collectively, the French team sometimes struggled to impose its play in the first half. How do you explain this? In fact, against a tightly-packed Welsh team, who defended well and as a unit, Les Bleues didn't play fast enough in the attacking phase. We lacked movement and rhythm to destabilize their defense. After the break, things were better, perhaps because the Welsh were tired.

"I tell myself that if France were opposed to Spain today, for example, it would be very risky to press so high."

What did you think of the French substitutes' performance? I liked it. (Sandy) Baltimore (entered the game in the 75th minute in place of Grace Geroyo), when she plays in midfield like this (Wednesday) evening, it works very well I think. (Sakina) Karchaoui (entered the game in the 78th minute in place of Sandy Toletti) "fixes" the game more than Toletti, she brings more impact to the ball handling. Likewise (Kelly) Gago (entered the game in the 66th minute in place of Melvin Malard) , who was not supposed to play against England, this time, got some playing time. I was pleased, because I really like her profile, she is a generous player. And finally (Lou) Bogaert (entered the game in the 66th minute in place of Selma Becha) did well the little she had to do. In the end, Bonadei seems to have managed to get the players involved, which is not always easy in a major tournament.

Another satisfaction concerns the quality of the pressing of the Bleues, who had already been impressive in this area against the English... Yes, we pressed well high up, we often had phases of conservation in the opposing half but in this configuration we have to be able to manage the depth if we miss a pass. Because for the moment, as soon as there is a mistake in a passing, the French team is exposed on a long ball, behind its central defense. The goal we conceded (scored by Jess Fishlock in the 14th) came in a phase of this type. In central defense, we have not yet found the ideal combination that would allow us to better manage this kind of situation... I tell myself that if France were opposed to Spain today for example, it would be very risky to press so high up.