Les demoiselles de Lyon During the Women’s World Cup, soccer players Delphine and Estelle Cascarino will be giving it their best, one on the field and the other in the stands, but both united in their passion for the beautiful game. They are twin sisters, born under the signnearby team, Olympique Lyonnais, who in these match-ups. With a touch of mis- of Aquarius. And at the age of 22, Del- allowed them to stay with their family. chief (“we know each other by heart”), phine and Estelle Cascarino are the same Then after two years at boarding school but above all complete respect. age—or nearly—as Catherine Deneuve in Lyon, they spent three years sharing a “Being twins has been a strength for us. and Françoise Dorléac were when they room at the elite soccer training acad- It has made us iron-willed,” they say in starred in Jacques Demy’s movie Les Dem- emy at Clairefontaine (in the Yvelines, unison. They say they’re close, but not at oiselles de Rochefort. But these demoisellesjust outside Paris). It was a learning all similar. “Delphine is reserved, rigor- do not live in Rochefort. Their roots can experience that forged the characters of ous, organized and disciplined. I’m more be traced to Guadeloupe on their mother’s these two independent, determined of an extrovert, cheerful and instinctive,” side, and when they dance, it’s more to theyoung women, a far cry from the— notes Estelle. Delphine continues: “As for tunes of Beyoncé, Rihanna and Justin sometimes justified—cliché of the music, my sister likes French rap: PNL, Bieber than to songs by Michel Legrand. spoiled, overprotected soccer player. Nekfeu, Ninho, Youssoupha. I go more They prefer pants to dresses; sneakers to “My daughters are hardworking and for the US version: Lil Durk, Young Thug heels. And they’re not pursu- and Chris Brown.” When- ing the perfect man as sum- ever they get together, they mer approaches, but a victory share a room, and every- at the World Cup, being held thing else—except their in France this year (June 7 to clothes. In terms of fashion, July 7), thehigh point in their “Delphine has a pretty already stellar careers as pro- classical style; I’m a bit fessional soccer players. quirkier, more colorful, Delphine, right-footed, is a sometimes old school,” says forward with Olympique Estelle, who likes to shop at Lyonnais (OL), the club Les Halles or around Saint- that’s dominated European Lazare in Paris. For these soccer for years. With 11 photos, taken on Place Bel- selections (and three goals), lecour and in La Guillotière she is a member of the neighborhood in Lyon, she French women’s team that’s chose houndstooth-check dreaming of winning its first pants, a black top and a world title in Lyon, where the silver necklace; Delphine semi-finals and final match opted for a seasonal white will be played. Her sister and cream outfit. “Even if we Estelle, left-footed (1 selec- wear shorts and tracksuits tion), plays as a defender for Paris FC, inhumble,”says their mother, Sophie-Aline for our jobs, we love to be feminine.” Division 1. Up to the latms inute,depitesCascarino, herself a basketball player andBoth hold a baccalaureate degree. Delphine competition for her piostio, shnehad long-distance runner who was “able to sees herself working in marketing down the still been hoping for aspot amn h 23ogte compete on a level footing with the boys.”line. Estelle prefers the media world. Until players in the group seectl ed andcoached“When I understood that they were tal- then, they want to promote increasing byCorinne Diacre. “But fnot, ’li Il bemyented, I encouraged them to believe in media interest in women’s soccer—which sister’s, and the French temsbiggta’, es themselves without fail.” The young should get a big boost from the World Cup. supporter,” she said, piohl sophcali ly. women—no relation to Marseille’s “We don’t live in the same world as the Even though they grewup ntraiedad n former forward Tony Cascarino—are men soccer players, but it feels like things near Lyon, becoming proessionlpay-f a l of average height, but are extremely are changing,” insists Delphine—who erswas not an easy path.Delphine and energetic and tireless team players. They suddenly sees a young boy walk up to ask Estelle played brilliantlyon the bo’ys inherited both her physical and mental if she’s really the forward for the OL. teams of AS Manissieu-SaintPetax-ris nd strength. Even when playing on opposing Affirmative, she says, with a huge grin. were scouted at age 11by therestipgious teams, twice a year, they give it their allThe soccer revolution has begun. Les sœurs Cascarino sur les berges du Rhône et au pont de la Guillotière. The Cascarino sisters on the banks of the Rhône and on the Pont de la Guillotière. 59