Overtaken in all sectors of the game, despite a beautiful face, the French women’s team was no match for the reigning world champions this Tuesday, in Nice (2-4).
TOPS
The Bonmati class
She is not a double Golden Ball for nothing (2024, 2023). In a meeting marred by numerous technical errors, FC Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati impressed with her technical superiority. Comfortable with the ball, without straining her talent, the La Roja player distributed the balls and walked in front of her opposite number. She was of course decisive against the French team (4-2 victory for Spain). A surgical finish to score the first goal of the match (6′) and a nice assist on his partners’ second goal (23′).
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Offensive and determined Blues
We cannot blame them for not having tried anything. Certainly below their opponents, Laurent Bonadei’s players led from the start of the match never gave up. Like their wingers Clara Mateo and Vicki Becho, the Tricolores tried to shake up the Spaniards by pressing high. If Diani’s inaccuracies in front of them were often lacking, the self-sacrifice of the French sometimes paid off. It was on a difference on the right and a powerful cross that the French team pushed Mendez to score against his side to reduce the gap before the break (37′). The second goal is in the same vein. Just broken, the Blues raised their heads and took advantage of an individual exploit from Malard to undermine the defense of the world champions (71′).
FLOPS
A world of difference
Certainly, the difference in the score is not that significant (2-4) but it in no way reflects the difference in level between the two teams. The French team had to cope without major absentees: Le Sommer, Mbock and De Almeida. In all areas of the game, the French were dominated. However, it was only a timid Spanish selection that presented itself at the Allianz Riviera. In slow motion, La Roja often left the ball to the French for long sequences. But with each change of pace, the Montserrat Tomé players put the partners of Wendie Renard, alone in the world in defense, to agony.
Unforgivable mistakes
Full of good intentions but far too feverish behind, Laurent Bonadei’s players held out the stick to be beaten. Already struggling against the accelerations of the Catalan Claudia Pina and the Arsenal player Mationa Caldentey, on the restart the Tricolores made a lot of errors. It was on a missed pass that Caldentey recovered the ball from the first goal (6′). When the defense is aligned, it is the goalkeeper who is not there. On Pina’s second goal (23′), Constance Picaud is very poorly placed and takes a shot in slow motion. As a symbol, it was on a final error that the Blue sealed their fate. At the end of the match, on a harmless deviation from Caldentey, Kenza Dali let his hand drag and causes a penalty (81′).
A sadly empty stadium
The poster was nevertheless attractive on paper. The remake of the last Nations League final, a match against the world champions and yet the stadium rang (very) hollow. If it is already difficult to fill during the OGC Nice meetings, to receive the women’s selection, the Allianz RIviera welcomed less than 8,000 people. Empty seats which stand out and make a mark, especially when the enclosure has more than 36,000 seats.
