Corinne Diacre: France wish to make historical past in first ever Euros semi-finals

Corinne Diacre stated France had been “right here to construct historical past” after they received previous holders the Netherlands to succeed in the semi-finals of the Girls’s Euros for the primary time.

Les Bleues secured a 1-0 victory over the Dutch in Rotherham due to Eve Perisset’s penalty within the first half of additional time.

They advance to a gathering with eight-time winners Germany in Milton Keynes on Wednesday, a primary look within the final 4 of the competitors after making quarter-final exits at every of the final three editions.

Boss Diacre, who took cost shortly after Euro 2017, stated when requested concerning the previous file: “That’s not our historical past. We’re right here to construct historical past. The gamers right here and the workers, we wish to make historical past for ourselves, and there may be nonetheless a little bit of a approach to go.”

She added: “We’ve reached a brand new stage this night, however that’s not the top for us. We actually wish to attain the ultimate. After we set out our ambitions we had been looking forward to July 31.”

Defender Perisset, who final month joined Chelsea from Bordeaux, transformed from the spot within the 102nd minute after Dominique Janssen’s problem on Kadidiatou Diani went to a VAR evaluate and Croatian referee Ivana Martincic watched the incident again on the pitchside monitor.

It noticed Daphne van Domselaar lastly crushed after France had created quite a few probabilities throughout regular time however been left pissed off by some wonderful saves by the younger Dutch goalkeeper, plus two goal-line clearances by defender Stefanie van der Gragt and misses that included Delphine Cascarino hitting the publish.

Diacre stated: “I’m happy, I’m very proud. I like the actual fact the gamers gave it their all, they saved plugging away, they stayed loyal to our recreation plan. We’ve been rewarded for our efforts this night.”

Diacre stated France had confronted “a rare goalkeeper”, and added when requested about attempting to deal with within the subsequent few days the difficulty of getting had a number of alternatives however solely scored as soon as: “I’m not going to resolve something within the subsequent three days – I don’t have a magic wand.

“As I stated, we had been up towards an unimaginable efficiency. We had been very scientific in our first recreation (a 5-1 victory over Italy) and I hope we shall be scientific once more in our subsequent recreation.”

The Netherlands struggled to make a lot of an influence in assault regardless of having file scorer Vivianne Miedema again in motion after two video games out following a constructive coronavirus take a look at.

Boss Mark Parsons stated he was pleased with his gamers’ efforts regardless of the loss, and described 22-year-old Van Domselaar’s efficiency as “world-class”.

The Englishman – successor to present England boss Sarina Wiegman, who guided the Dutch to Euro 2017 glory and the 2019 World Cup last – stated: “I’m unbelievably pleased with the gamers and workers. You noticed gamers give completely every thing, there’s not a participant with an oz of power left.

“First half was very tough, that wasn’t us, it wasn’t ok. However we received in 0-0 due to Daphne and some others, some heroic defending. Second half significantly better, and we believed within the further time. They received their second at a vital time, when our bodies are drained, and took it. However I couldn’t be prouder of the trouble

“The long run is vivid, and I want we may have proven {that a} bit extra on this event, however it wasn’t meant to be.”

Concerning Van Domselaar, Parsons stated: “I simply instructed her that’s the very best goalkeeping efficiency I’ve seen on the Euros since (Germany’s) Nadine Angerer in 2013, and she or he received a Ballon d’Or that 12 months. She’s been superb within the different video games, and tonight, was world-class. She’s goalkeeper of the event, there’s no-one even near her.”