February 2025 saw the Aztecs fly across the channel yet again, for what is our third trip to France in just one calendar year.
Another French flag added to the tour flag, with the Aztecs now having played in tournaments in Paris, Nantes, and Strasbourg.
Making the short flight from Gatwick to Strasbourg were Aztecs Tour veterans Lauren Sayler, Mayela Reyna, Rebekah Tonks, Nicola Curtis, Laura Ingram, Beth Anderson, who were joined by tour debutants Ayuma Asira, Larissa Pereira, and Leah Harris. Rebekah Tonks and Nicola Curtis remain as the only two players to have been on every Aztecs tour.
Our amazing hosts were FC Hautepierre, and the venue for the day was Gymnase de la Rotonde, a fabulous indoor arena with seating on two sides, and a viewing gallery behind the goal. We love playing in France, because the facilities are top notch! The tournament itself featured twelve teams split into two groups of six. Teams would compete for the first and second places to progress into seeded semi-finals. Teams finishing third to sixth would play a ranking match against their counterparts in the other group.
The first match was a 1-0 defeat to the eventual winners Dijon, who featured two French internationals in their squad. Playing against top players like this is a fantastic learning experience.
The different tournament formats, the facilities, the playing styles, and even the refereeing, present different challenges for our players to adapt to. The games were twelve minutes with a running clock, which often meant the team to score first would win. How do you get the first goal? If you concede first, how do you claw it back? Most French courts are typically 40x20m, which is the full international size. Playing on a court with those dimensions in England is rare, meaning we had to adjust to defending a bigger space. It did have its benefits when attacking, however, as the larger space meant it was more difficult for teams to press when we played with a fly keeper. As we have reported before from our French trips, the French referees have a very different tolerance level for physical contact when compared to England. In France, it can be more akin to wrestling, whereas in England, it sometimes feels like a non-contact sport.
Results
Aztecs 0-1 Dijon
Aztecs 3-1 FC Strasbourg
Aztecs 1-2 FC Hautepierre
Aztecs 1-1 Vendeheim
Aztecs 3-0 Espoir 24
Once the group stage had concluded, we finished third from our six. It was Dijon and the hosts Hautepierre that made it to the semis, and then met each other again in the final, with Dijon coming out on top. The girls can feel aggrieved, as it was sloppy play in the match against Hautepierre which allowed the hosts to get the winner.
Ranking Match
To decide which team would come fifth out of the twelve competitors, we faced-off against US Vandoeuvre, who had also finished third in their group. The win was sealed with two Aztecs goals and a clean sheet, earning a respectable finish on this trip to Strasbourg.
Statistics
Larissa Pereira and Ayuma Asira added themselves to the Aztecs Scored Abroad List.
After scoring in France, Rebekah Tonks has now scored in every country she's played in, and leads the way with four countries.
Beth Anderson maintains her streak of scoring on every trip she's been on, and is the only player to hold this record.
Beth Anderson also remains our top scorer in France.
We have ten different players to have scored in France, more than any other country.
Photos
Listen... fair play!
We didn't win the big prize, but we were awarded the trophy for fair play. It may not seem like a lot, but to us, it's a big deal when our competitors identify and value our conduct and standards.
Recap
All of our matches are available to watch in Tactical Camera view, filmed from the viewing gallery. Just click on this link.
Thank you, again, to Hautepierre and the city of Strasbourg. We can't wait for more adventures!
Comentários