Female players 'still objects', laments trailblazing coach

But despite such advances, she said life in soccer remained doubly complicated for women because they have to contend with factors not faced by men.

"It's true that it's more difficult for us, the difficulties are multiplied by two. We know it's always been like that, so we have to deal with it," the 44-year-old said.

"But there can be a lot of wickedness. Really a lot of wickedness, a bit of jealousy I think too. The worst thing is when you prove you're capable of success, it's complicated for them (to accept)."

From campsite to dugout

When Diacre leads France at Parc des Princes against South Korea for the World Cup opener on June 7, it will underline how far she has traveled.

Diacre, already an international at the time, watched France's home victory at the 1998 men's World Cup in far more humble surroundings-at a campsite, where she had a summer job as a physical instructor to fund her studies.

However, she said she isn't daydreaming about lifting the World Cup in Lyon in July, but is treating it more as a mission handed to her by French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet.

"I'm not dreaming about it but, yes, I've been given this objective by my president: to go and win the World Cup," Diacre said.

"I know what my objective is, I know it will be very important and very, very good for France to win this title," she added.

"But today, even if we're third in the FIFA rankings, we're not the favorites. So we enter this competition as outsiders."

France also faces Norway and Nigeria in Group A as it bids to win the title for the first time.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE