By David Gold
February 25 – French women’s football coach Bruno Bini has set his team the target of picking up a medal at this summer’s Olympic Games in London.
Though World Champions Japan and reigning Olympic gold medallists the United States will start as firm favourites to reach the final, Bini says his own team’s performance in the World Cup last year, where they reached the semi finals, means they should aim high.
“The objective is to get a medal,” he told Le Monde.
“When you are a semi-finalist in a World Cup, you can not aim lower.”
The semi-final in Germany last year qualified France for London 2012, which will be their first ever appearance in the women’s Olympic football tournament since it debuted in Atlanta in 1996.
Further cause for French optimism is that many of their squad play for reigning European club champions Olympique Lyonnais, who are bidding to retain their title this season.
Bini told Le Monde that he was not concerned that Olympique Lyonnais players could suffer from tiredness if they go on to retain their trophy and said that it would be a psychological boost for Les Bleues.
Bini emphasised that the team would be physically quite distanced from the Games and not overawed by the occasion.
They will not be at the Opening Ceremony as they will be playing the following day, and with games taking place across the United Kingdom, they will be far away from the Olympic Village and the focal point of the Games in the Olympic Park.
“The World Cup is the most important tournament,” said Bini, but added, “the Olympics are obviously fantastic.”
“The stadia are superb and should be full.
“It’s like playing a second World Cup a year after the last.”
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