A week after the Blues fiasco, the time for the debriefing has come. Ringed again and “Disappointed” by the unexpected elimination of the France team by Switzerland on June 28 in the round of 16 of the Euro, Noël Le Graët wants to analyze the underlying reasons for the failure of the world champions and regain control. Reelected in March for a fourth term, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) will receive, this week, in his stronghold of Guingamp (Côtes-d’Armor), coach Didier Deschamps. Under contract until the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, the latter is hardly threatened and will be reinforced in his functions.
Before discussing with the technician, Mr. Le Graët, 79, should have a much less hushed discussion with Florence Hardouin, its general manager since 2013. Daily representative of the FFF within the French delegation during the tournament, the “DG” is summoned at the beginning of the week, in Guingamp, to explain himself mainly on the logistical problems encountered by the staff of the Blues. Notably the imbroglio around the hotel reserved in Gardony, on the outskirts of Budapest, finally abandoned for an establishment located in the heart of the Hungarian capital.
Beyond these organizational issues, the competition highlighted the tensions between Mme Hardouin, 54, and several members of the French staff. Since the coronation in Russia in 2018, the DG has made the France team its reserved area. While Mr. Le Graët no longer follows the Blues from day to day as in the past, Mr.me Hardouin knew how to make himself indispensable in the eyes of M. Deschamps. She multiplies the little touches and gifts, as in 2018, when she decided to offer luxury watches to world champions.
“She controls everything from A to Z”
“From Russia, she controls everything from A to Z, underlines an employee of the FFF, who requires anonymity. And since the re-election of Mr. Le Graët in March, it is clearly she who manages all the files of the France team, directly with Deschamps. “” At each major competition since 2010 [Euro et Coupe du monde], a member of the general management also acts as an administrative link between the EDF group and the head of the delegation », Assures Mme Hardouin, while recalling that Mr. Le Graët remains the ” head of the delegation of the France A team. “
According to inside sources, Mme Hardouin would have sharply criticized several members of the tricolor staff during the Euro. Among them is the doctor of the France team, Franck Le Gall, as affirmed The team. ” I deny this information, sweep Mme Hardouin. Changes in the composition of the staff of the France team are still discussed between the president and the coach. “
You have 62.37% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.