The Rise of France Women's National Football Team: Key Players and Future Prospects
I still remember watching the 2011 Women's World Cup quarterfinal between France and England, completely captivated by how this French squad was beginning to carve its identity on the global stage. Fast forward to today, and the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. The French women's national football team has evolved from tournament participants to genuine contenders, and their journey mirrors the kind of competitive spirit we're seeing at various levels of women's football worldwide. Just look at the recent Division 2 quarterfinal matches where Immaculate Conception Academy swept Miriam College 25-19, 25-20, while Everest International Academy booted out Assumption Antipolo 25-20, 25-22 to forge a semis duel. These matches, though at a different competitive tier, showcase the same determination and tactical discipline that has become the hallmark of France's senior national team.
When I analyze France's rise, it's impossible to overlook the foundational role played by their key players. Wendie Renard, the towering defender who's been with Lyon for what feels like forever, brings not just her 1.87-meter frame but an incredible leadership presence that statistics can't fully capture. Then there's Eugénie Le Sommer, whose goal-scoring record of 86 international goals as of 2022 makes her arguably the most prolific French scorer in history. What often goes unnoticed is her work rate off the ball – she covers approximately 9.8 kilometers per match, which is exceptional for a forward. Marie-Antoinette Katoto represents the new generation; at just 24 she's already demonstrated why Paris Saint-Germain fought to keep her, with her conversion rate of 23% being among the highest in European football last season. These players didn't just appear – they developed through a system that's increasingly prioritizing women's football, something we're beginning to see trickle down to collegiate and academy levels globally.
The tactical evolution under Corinne Diacre has been fascinating to observe. France has shifted from a purely physical approach to a more nuanced, possession-based style that maintains their defensive solidity. They average 58% possession in competitive matches, complete around 420 passes per game with 82% accuracy, and yet still manage to register approximately 18 shots per match. This balance between control and aggression reminds me of what successful academy teams like Immaculate Conception demonstrated in their straight-set victory – disciplined execution without sacrificing offensive intent. France's 4-3-3 formation has become more fluid, with fullbacks pushing high and creative players like Grace Geyoro given freedom to operate between lines. It's this tactical flexibility that makes them so difficult to play against.
Looking at their future prospects, I'm genuinely excited about what's coming through their development pipeline. The French federation has increased investment in women's youth development by approximately 40% since 2019, and it's starting to show. Young talents like Vicki Becho and Melvine Malard are already making impacts at senior level, suggesting the production line remains robust. The challenge, as I see it, will be maintaining this momentum while navigating the increased competitiveness globally. With nations like England, Spain, and the United States also elevating their programs, France cannot afford to stand still. They need to continue developing technical players who can adapt to various tactical systems while maintaining the physical attributes that have traditionally characterized French football.
What particularly impresses me about France's approach is their integration of sports science and player management. They've reduced training-related injuries by 27% over the past three years through better monitoring and recovery protocols. The average age of their squad has decreased from 28.6 in 2019 to 25.8 in their most recent selections, indicating a conscious rejuvenation while maintaining experience where it matters. This balanced approach to squad building is something I wish more national teams would emulate – it creates sustainable success rather than cyclical peaks and troughs.
The commercial growth surrounding the team has been equally impressive. Sponsorship revenue has increased by approximately 300% since 2015, with attendance at home matches growing from an average of 8,200 to over 22,500. This creates a virtuous cycle where increased investment leads to better facilities and development, which in turn produces better results and attracts more interest. Having witnessed how women's football has struggled for recognition in various markets, France's commercial success story provides a blueprint for other nations seeking to build sustainable programs.
As we look toward the 2024 Olympics and beyond, I believe France is positioned to challenge for major honors consistently. Their infrastructure development, combined with the emerging talent and tactical sophistication, creates a foundation that should keep them among the world's elite for the foreseeable future. The recent quarterfinal performances we saw from academies like Everest International, who secured their semifinal spot with scores of 25-20, 25-22, demonstrate that competitive culture exists throughout French football. This trickle-up effect, where competitive standards rise at all levels, ultimately benefits the national team. France's journey from occasional contenders to established power has been one of the most compelling stories in women's football, and frankly, I don't think their rise is complete yet.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
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– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
