A number of Blues are currently away representing their respective national teams. Somebody who knows what that honour feels like is our head coach Sonia Bompastor, who represented France an incredible 156 times.
Before establishing herself as one of the best head coaches in the women’s game, Bompastor, a left-sided player in defence or midfield, was regarded as one of the finest to ever feature for Les Bleues.
Her journey with the senior national team started in February 2000 when she was 19 years old. A maiden cap arrived in a 2-1 defeat to Scotland, before a cameo appearance in a loss to China days later.
Of course, playing for your country for the first time is a proud and unforgettable moment, something our head coach can attest to. But, for Bompastor, who holds herself to the highest standard, had dreamed of having a bigger impact upon the introduction to the international stage.
‘I remember in one of my first games I came on for maybe around ten minutes,’ Bompastor says. ‘I almost didn’t touch the ball and I was sad.
‘I had mixed emotions. It was one of the first times I had worn the French national team shirt, but at the same time, I was disappointed I played for ten minutes and barely touched the ball. But, I do remember exactly those times I did touch the ball. Representing your country will always be something very special.’
The impact Bompastor so desired did come to fruition. She would go on to represent France more than 150 times, captain her country, score 19 goals, and play at five major tournaments and an Olympic games.
Her first appearance at a major senior international tournament came one year after her France debut: the 2001 European Championships. But, it was in the latter stages of her international career that left Bompastor with some of her best memories.
‘There were two big moments in my career with the French team,’ she explains. ‘The first was the World Cup in Germany in 2011. The second was the Olympic Games here in London in 2012.
‘We played beautiful football. We performed the best for the France women’s national team of all time, reaching the semi-final of the World Cup and the semi-final of the Olympics.
‘They are moments I will never forget because we did something really incredible. We played in stadiums full of supporters. Representing your country at the Olympics is something exceptional. They were some of the best times of my life and I will always look back at them with a lot of pleasure.’