Pilard aims to go one better

Stéphane Pilard has not done badly in his current coaching role - in his two years leading France in the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship he has reached the final on both occasions. Tonight he aims to go one better than last season, and emerge the winner.

'Another year'
In 2005 Russia pipped Les Bleuettes on penalties, but Pilard is not harking back to that. "It is always different," he told uefa.com. "It was another year, another set of players, another finalist - Germany. But I am very happy." Seven very well-motivated survivors from last season's squad are in Switzerland, and they have been geeing up the newcomers. "We asked them to go to the younger players, and they did," Pilard said.

Long-term reward
France's record in this competition is superb, second only to three-time winners Germany. And the national school system, where young boys and girls are trained and educated and then promoted to a club where they play together is vital, Pilard states. "To be here, and in the final, it is a reward for the work we have done before, in Clairefontaine and in the club," he said. "We have the best coaches, the players live as a group. To be here is the culmination. That's why we have reached four [Women's U19] finals in five years."

Delie talent
One of the products is stiker Marie Laure Delie, who has struck in all four finals games and with five goals is now only two adrift of Elena Danilova at the summit of the scorers' table. "It is very important to have a player like Marie-Laure," Pilard said. "She can always score a goal even if she is not at her best. I ask her to score in each match, and now to get two to equal Danilova - I hope so. She is very important, and scores because of the other players. They know she is important. And the team is more important."

Senior aim
Also vital is that these players continue on to help the senior team on to new heights, especially when they play their vital FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers after the summer. "The young players are very good every year, we hope these young players will reach the national team," Pilard said. "A lot of the 2003 European U19 champion side and this year three of last season's squad have been promoted. We hope they will qualify for the World Cup, it will be difficult. We have a good team, good players, and the national team needs to qualify for the big tournaments."

Penalties plan
But first there is today's final in Berne, and the possibility of a penalty shoot-out. Not only did France lose the FIFA World Cup on penalties, Pilard's side also went down on spot kicks a year ago to Russia. So will they be practicing penalties? "No," Pilard insists. "Even if you practice in training it is different to the match. I know my players can take penalties, but we don't train. We have a good goalkeeper and good technical players. Hopefully we won't go to penalties, it was very difficult last year."