This World Cup continues to mislead forecasters. After the elimination of Brazil, it is Germany, double world champion, who takes the door in the first round after their draw against South Korea (1-1) on Thursday August 3. This had never happened to one of the strongest nations in women’s football. And while everyone was anticipating a knockout round of 16 between the Germans and the Blues, first in group F, Morocco, neophytes at this level, will finally be the opponent of the Triclores, Tuesday August 8, in Adelaide (Australia).
This is a real feat for the Moroccans (72nd in the FIFA rankings and coached by ex-FC Nantes international player Reynald Pedros), who beat the Colombians 1-0. The goal of this historic qualification was scored by the Franco-Moroccan Annissa Lahmari, Guingamp player born in Saint-Cloud, in the Hauts-de-Seine.
On Wednesday, after their 6-3 success against Panama, Les Bleues imagined instead facing Colombia or Germany. But, in view of this first round of the World Cup, where modest selections competed with renowned selections, they called for caution regardless of their next opponent.
“We want to go all the way”
“It doesn’t matter which team is in front, it will be high level. You just have to give it your all. If we have to leave our hearts on the pitch, we will,” defender Elisa De Almeida said. Lyonnaise Selma Bacha insists on the unpredictability of this tournament: “In this World Cup, everyone can beat everyone. We saw it with Jamaica which eliminated Brazil. »
Before Thursday’s decisive matches, French midfielder Sandie Toletti said she had “no opponent preference” for the next round of 16. “We wanted to finish first in our group and we want to go all the way. »
Arriving in Adelaide at the start of the afternoon, the French players rested on Thursday. And they had not planned to watch the two meetings which were to decide their future opponent. “We have a dinner planned outside the hotel, maybe we will have the games in the background, said Sandie Toletti, a few hours before the elimination of Germany. Tomorrow, we will start to analyze the team we will meet. »
The Real Madrid player is careful not to be overconfident. A state of mind that will certainly not change with the surprise of Moroccan qualification: “What happened to us during the group stage [draw against Jamaica and three goals conceded against Panama] must show us that all the matches will be difficult. This round of 16 will be a cutthroat match, where the slightest error can be costly. »
Against the Moroccans, whom the French know perfectly since eight players have dual Franco-Moroccan nationality (13 out of 23 are binationals), it will be necessary to remain serious and avoid the blunders committed against Panama. “We will have to be solid defensively because the level will increase. We must not make these kinds of mistakes anymore,” warns Elisa De Almeida.
This match between France and Morocco will also be the women’s version of the opposition between the two countries, in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, in December 2022. Didier Deschamps’ Blues then won 2- 0.