This time, the Blues were too green. In a Geoffroy-Guichard stadium barely filled with 10,000 people, far from the fervor that awaits ASSE for its return to Ligue 1, the French women’s team was dominated by that of England this Tuesday evening (1- 2). A revenge for the English Lionesses, beaten by the Tricolores last Friday in Newcastle (2-1).
And a little return to earth for Hervé Renard, loud as ever in his technical zone and who had aligned what he thought was closest to his typical team.
The worst happened in the first period, when nothing worked for the Blues. A poverty seen even in the eyes and symbolized by the reproaches addressed on the lawn. A missed check by one, a call not sharp enough for the other. At the end of a grueling season for the organizations, the French were far from being able to annoy England who found all the enthusiasm seen during their title of European champion (2022) and their World Cup final ( 2023).
Kadidiatou Diani revives the Blues
Quite the opposite of the amorphous team last Friday. So obviously when captain Leah Williamson, Beth Mead or Alessia Russo, three members of Arsenal, wake up, the level rises. Above technically and in impact, the English struck twice. First with a precise shot at the entrance to the area by Georgia Stanway (21st). Then with a header from Russo, intelligently placed between Élisa de Almeida and Maëlle Lakrar, to recover a ball dropped by Mead (34th).
A happy score of 2-0 at the break for the Blues, thanks to the saves of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (21st, 30th) or the English clumsiness (17th, 43rd). The moment chosen by Hervé Renard for a deserved blower and two changes: Sandie Toletti for Amandine Henry, overwhelmed sentinel, and Delphine Cascarino for Sakina Karchaoui, aligned on the left wing but not a specialist in the position. And, finally, the French opportunities arrived. Marie-Antoinette Katoto, with a header (47th) and after a hook in the area (56th), tried.
Starving assistance, a failure for the FFF
During a much more successful second act, the Blues reignited the suspense from a standstill, like ten times in the last 13 goals scored, a French specialty. Kadidiatou Diani, for her 100th selection, a number celebrated before the match in the presence of local hero Aimé Jacquet, deceived Hannah Hampton on a penalty (72nd) after a foul caused by Geyoro. But the comeback stopped there despite a crazy opportunity from Katoto (89th), miraculously diverted by Hampton.
A defeat which completely revives the qualifying group for Euro 2025 since the France team is only two points ahead of England and Sweden. He will have two opportunities left in July to secure one of the two tickets for the continental competition. The other setback of the evening was for the FFF, which only filled 20% of the stadium less than two months before the Olympic Games. A striking contrast with the 42,000 spectators present at St-James Park last Friday.
France-England: 1-2 (half-time: 0-2)
Spectators: 10,194.
Referee: Ms. Martincic (CRO).
Buts. France : Diani (72e, s.p.). Angleterre : Stanway (21e), Russo (34e).
Warnings. France: Bacha (79th), Dali (85th). England: Stanway (71st), Bronze (71st), Hampton (81st), Kelly (87th).
France: Peyraud-Magnin – De Almeida, Lakrar (Périsset 73rd), W. Renard (cap.), Bacha (Baltimore, 90th) – Geyoro, Henry (Toletti, 46th), Dali (Becho, 90th) – Diani, Katoto, Karchaoui (D. Cascarino, 46th). Enter. : H. Fox.
Angleterre : Hampton – Bronze, Bright, Williamson (cap.), Carter – Toone, Walsh, Stanway – Hemp, Russo, Mead (Kelly, 75e). Entr. : Wiegman.
