Solène Durand introduces the France squad
Saturday, August 31, 2013
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Goalkeeper Solène Durand introduces France's Women's U19 Championship winners, including a trio of dancers, a cartoon fanatic and the playmaker they all call Zizounette.
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1 Solène Durand (goalkeeper)
A great personality, very motivated and another leader of the team. She never gives up and always want more.
2 Aurélie Gagnet (defender)
Quite shy off the pitch but still very open. She is a really important member of the team.
3 Marine Dafeur (defender)
She and Faustine Robert never stop joking, it creates a great atmosphere in the squad – they're tireless. She's the only genuine left-footed player in the side.
4 Aissatou Tounkara (defender)
The other twin tower in central defence alongside Griedge. She's a great dancer, a very lively person. She is known for her very long legs and uses them well.
5 Griedge M'Bock Bathy (defender)
Our captain, our best player, our leader. She is calm, smooth but aggressive with it – a very reassuring presence. She's another great dancer off the pitch and even gives dance classes to team-mates. We will miss her in the final as she is suspended.
6 Aminata Diallo (midfielder)
She's small in midfield but somehow always manages to come out on top in difficult situations.
7 Faustine Robert (forward)
We call her Faufau and she loves the cartoon Franklin the Turtle. The liveliest player in the squad, the resident comic, but on the field she gives everything and is always very focused.
8 Clarisse Le Bihan (forward)
The mum of the team, always giving advice as she has a lot of experience. She is versatile and can play the lone striker role or drop deeper as a playmaker. A key part of the side.
9 Kadidiatou Diani (forward)
The super sub – she had never scored a header until the one in the semi-final that made it 2-0. She is shy but can be lively sometimes as well.
10 Sandie Toletti (midfielder)
Our playmaker. She creates chances, gives her all for the team and seems to prefer providing goals to scoring them. She has a very distinctive scream that everybody loves. She is very different on the pitch to off it.
11 Léa Declercq (forward)
A key part of our team, very fast on the wing. She did well to bounce back after having her penalty saved in the first game. A very nice girl on and off the field.
12 Charlène Gorce (defender)
She's quite shy, a good listener. Her game is precise, reliable, with no overelaboration. She's a very pleasant girl off the field.
13 Charlotte Saint Sans Levacher (defender)
The tallest player we have, very good in the air and dealing with long balls. She's quite a shy person but is always willing to get involved and take part.
14 Ghoutia Karchouni (midfielder)
Griedge and Aissatou taught her how to dance and now she is pretty good. She is important to our defence, a very skilful player with great ability to read the game. She is small in stature but big when it comes to making the right decisions.
15 Claire Lavogez (forward)
The other super sub against Germany. She has the potential to become the next great French player – her nickname when we were with France U17s was Zizounette. She knows how to keep hold of the ball.
17 Alexandra Atamaniuk (forward)
The smallest player in the team, a forward with real pace who brings a hint of the unknown to the side.
18 Lindsey Thomas (forward)
Shy. She was a late-comer to the team but she is here to learn and has adapted very well to the environment.
21 Tanya De Souza (goalkeeper)
She is happy to be here as replacement for the injured Romane Bruneau. She is here to learn even if she knows she is second-choice goalkeeper. A good listener.