After Netherlands / France gleaned by Les Bleuettes 4-0, the President of the French Football Federation, Noël Le Graët reacted to the start of the competition of the French and was excited by what they had demonstrated against the Dutch.

Reporter: From a sporting point of view the goal is reached!

Yes, going out of the chicken stages is good, it is not easy. Tonight (Sunday, ed) they made a very good match. The score is logical, the team was very well balanced. The coach took some risks, he won. And so he is entitled to all our compliments. We have exceptional players, with qualities above average, so the qualification is logical.

Reporter: what did you tell them to mobilize them before the match?

They were told that a qualification has to do with the qualities of play but also with the mind. They had a slight doubt after their draw (0-0 against New Zealand, ed). It was also explained to them that it was not necessary to stress too much but that one had to play simply. Football is a game, especially when you are 20 years old like them.

Reporter: Did you feel stressed?

No. After yes the environment could bring some stress, because the qualification could have been validated during the previous match. We did not play very well, we had a lot of goal chances, and of course they could doubt. But today they had a lot of energy.

Reporter: Are there any players who impressed you today?

I'm not going to quote them too much but you've seen the one who put goals when she was not necessarily the holder in the first two games (Amélie Delabre scored three goals against the Netherlands, ed) . Our Lyonnaise who plays on the side (Selma Bacha, ed) was also exceptional. But I will not quote more because it was a complete match. We have seen a team that is very supportive and, I think, well balanced, at all positions.

Reporter: Korea is in the quarterfinals. It's not going to wake up the old demons (reference to the 2016 U20 World Cup final lost 1-3 by Les Bleuettes against the North Koreans, ed)?

It's a very good team, playing on the ground. So it's going to be a nice match Thursday in Concarneau. For me it is one of the best teams of the tournament. But they just qualified, it shows that it's difficult.

Football hearts: Is this match against the Netherlands a turning point for the Bleuettes?

It was important already to go out of the chicken phases. Les Bleuettes have technical qualities, really. Many players evolve in D1 or will evolve in D1, and in big clubs. And they want to do well. So yes the match of the Netherlands is perhaps an important passage. When we see the men's team in Russia during the World Cup, there have been key matches as the 1/8 round of final against Argentina (4-3). After that I do not say it's the same for them today because the Dutch were already qualified in the quarter before the match. But in any case the Bleuettes show that they are excellent and that they can perform during this U20 World Cup.

Reporter: What do you think of the atmosphere at each match?

The atmosphere is very nice, the reception is everywhere very pleasant. The cities (Vannes, Saint-Malo, Dinan / Léhon and Concarneau) have made a lot of effort and the lawns are very very beautiful.

Interviewed by Dounia Mesli

Arnaud Le Quéré