How France Women's Football Team Is Redefining Success in International Competitions

I still remember the chill in the Parisian air last November, the kind that seeps into your bones and makes you appreciate the warmth of crowded spaces. I was sitting in a cozy café near Parc des Princes, scrolling through football news on my phone while waiting for my hot chocolate, when I stumbled upon something that made me pause mid-swipe. There it was—the headline that would dominate women's football conversations for months: "How France Women's Football Team Is Redefining Success in International Competitions." At that moment, steam rising from my mug, I realized something fundamental was shifting in how we measure achievement in women's sports.

The memory took me back to another press conference I'd covered virtually just weeks earlier—the Philippine Volleyball League season launch. Commissioner Sherwin Malonzo was addressing Eya Laure's contract stalemate with Chery Tiggo, his words echoing through my laptop speakers: "Our regulations exist to protect both players and teams, but we're constantly evolving to meet modern sports demands." That phrase—"constantly evolving"—stuck with me. It's exactly what I've witnessed happening with French women's football over the past three years. They're not just playing matches; they're rewriting the entire playbook on what constitutes victory at the highest level.

Last summer, during the Women's World Cup, I found myself in Lyon watching France train. What struck me wasn't their technical prowess—though that was magnificent—but their team discussions during water breaks. They weren't just talking tactics; they were debating what legacy they wanted to leave beyond trophies. Captain Wendie Renard told me over coffee after one session, "We used to measure success by quarterfinal appearances. Now we're creating new metrics—youth engagement numbers, professional pathway development, even our social media's educational content reach." The team has apparently boosted girls' football participation by 47% in France since 2019, a statistic that might not make headlines but represents real cultural change.

This philosophical shift reminds me of that PVL contract situation Commissioner Malonzo addressed. When elite athletes like Eya Laure negotiate not just salaries but career development opportunities, they're doing the same thing France's football federation did—expanding the definition of winning. France's women now consider their National Technical Center's upgrade success, their 28% increase in licensed female coaches success, their landmark television deal worth approximately €8 million annually success. These aren't consolation prizes; they're conscious choices to build sustainable ecosystems rather than chasing fleeting glory.

I've followed this team through three major tournaments now, and what fascinates me is how their "disappointments" have become transformative moments. Remember their 2022 Euro quarterfinal exit? The narrative could've been about failure. Instead, within 48 hours, they'd launched "Les Bleues Academy," identifying 73 promising teenagers for specialized development. They're playing the long game in a sport that often rewards short-term thinking. Frankly, I admire this approach more than any trophy lift—it's brave to prioritize future generations over immediate praise.

The financial aspect can't be ignored either. While exact figures are notoriously slippery in sports, my sources suggest France's sponsorship revenue has grown from roughly €4.2 million to nearly €11.5 million since 2020. But here's what impressed me more: they've allocated 32% of that to grassroots programs rather than just player bonuses. That's the kind of structural thinking that creates lasting change, similar to how progressive leagues like PVL are rethinking player contracts beyond immediate transactions.

Watching France train those chilly mornings, I saw something rare in elite sports—genuine joy in process rather than just outcome. They'd celebrate a perfectly executed training drill as vigorously as a World Cup goal. This mentality is contagious; their U-19 squad recently adopted the same process-focused approach and saw technical scores improve by 18% in six months. Sometimes I think we fans get too obsessed with podium finishes while missing the quiet revolutions happening in training centers.

What France's women understand—and what Commissioner Malonzo hinted at with those PVL regulations—is that modern sports success isn't a binary win/lose equation. It's about building something that outlasts any single game. Next time you watch France play, notice how they interact with ball girls, how they speak about opponents, how their social media highlights tactical education. They're crafting a new blueprint, one that might just influence how we measure achievement across all women's sports. And honestly? I'm here for every minute of it.