The French team began its Olympic Games with a victory against Colombia (3-2) on Thursday, July 25. While they were leading at half-time, the Blues gave themselves a scare in the second period.
It’s a contrasting first match for the French women’s team. Led by Marie-Antoinette Katoto, the Bleues started the Olympic tournament with a hard-fought victory against the Colombians in Lyon (3-2), Thursday, July 25. After dominating in the first half, they then gave themselves a scare by conceding two goals.
In front of nearly 30,000 spectators at the Stade de Lyon, the French team initially looked impressive. PSG striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored twice, opening the scoring in the sixth minute, then giving France a header from a pass from Kadidiatou Diani in the 42nd minute. Before that, Kenza Dali had doubled the lead in the 18th minute. At halftime, the Tricolores were leading 3-0, and seemed set for victory.
But it was a completely different game that the Bleues delivered in the second half, letting themselves be overtaken by the Colombians. Visibly tired, Hervé Renard’s players conceded two goals in just ten minutes, scored by Catalina Usme then Manuela Pavi. “It’s not normal to have a half like this, especially if we have very high objectives, we can’t allow ourselves to get fired up like that,” declared the captain of the French team, Wendie Renard, in the heat of the moment.
“It’s clear that something went wrong”
The Tricolores coach, Hervé Renard, also did not hide his frustration. “Sometimes silence is stronger than shouting, saying words that can hurt, so tonight I will refrain from any comments,” he declared at the end of the match. Before adding that he had “said nothing” and “nothing to say to say” to his players.
More restrained, the double scorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto affirmed that it was “too early to speak”. “The second half, I could not explain to you what happened, we are not going to speak in the heat of the moment”. “In the heat of the moment, I cannot really tell you, but it is clear that there was something wrong”, she said.
Despite their contrasting match, the Tricolores take the lead in Group A alongside the Canadians, the reigning Olympic champions. On Sunday, they will face Canada at 9 p.m. in Saint-Etienne, before meeting New Zealand on Wednesday, July 31. Three years earlier, in Tokyo, the Bleues had not been selected to participate in the Olympic Games.
