After the announcement, it’s time for implementation. The French Football Federation has established a process aimed at optimizing penalty shootouts. This initiative was discussed during the seminar of the different selections, with the exception of Didier Deschamps’ A team.

The objective is to contribute to the reflection in order to improve France’s performance in this exercise, similar to the work already carried out for set pieces. This is a global strategy which will be deployed from March. “We decided to review the whole process a little. The first angle is to put the coach or the coach”specified the national technical director of the FFF Hubert Fournier.

Ending the negative spiral

The penalty shootout, a traumatic event for the French. Didier Deschamps’ Blues failed at Euro 2021 (in the round of 16 against Switzerland), and obviously at the 2022 World Cup (in the final against Argentina). The women are no exception to the rule, and also came out of the last 2023 World Cup during the penalty shootout (in the quarter-final against Australia).

The coach of the French women’s team Hervé Renard commented on this new initiative which he considers essential: ” It is important. There are plenty of sectors that are analyzed using statistics and data. In the final stages of the World Cup, 1/3 of the qualifications are decided after penalties. But football remains a game. You need inspiration, talent. Sometimes you also have to decide well, so that’s part of a high-level match.