Wendie Renard, Kadidatiou Diani, Eugénie Le Sommer and others have a date with history on Saturday August 12 against Australia. Les Bleues will play a quarter-final against one of the two host countries – with New Zealand. In the event of qualification, the objective announced before the competition would be achieved.
In front of the 50,000 Australian fans expected at the Brisbane Stadium, the French women face their history: a victory would qualify them for their second semi-final after 2011; an elimination would have a taste of stagnation, four years after the quarter-final lost against the United States at home (2-1).
“This is one of the most important games in our history. Compared to our future, we are at a turning point, ”acknowledged striker Eugénie Le Sommer, who will not have many chances, at 34, to bring a medal to her country. This summit against the Australians will dictate the comments of the followers of the Blue, from journalists to the most assiduous spectators.
Since 2009, the French team has played in every quarter of the major competitions in which it has participated. But his record is mixed, with six eliminations and only three qualifications for the semi-finals, including one at the 2011 World Cup and at the last Euro in England.
So, if Hervé Renard’s players are eliminated on Saturday against Australia, pushed by an entire country, their World Cup will inevitably be a great disappointment, after five games and only one shock worthy of the name in the pocket, against Brazil in the group stage (2-1), July 29.
Since this reference match against the Seleçao, the Tricolores have rubbed shoulders with two very weak opponents, Panama (6-3) then Morocco (4-0). The coach will not, in this case, have succeeded in his mission, that of the objective of the semi-finals displayed by the French Football Federation (FFF).
“The objectives have been clear since April. We know how crucial tomorrow’s match is to succeed in this challenge. We are happy to be here to take it up, “said the coach, determined to pass this milestone of quarters, so difficult to break, and bring down the” Matildas “at home.
A qualification for the semi-finals against England or Colombia, the second in history after 2011, would ensure Renard a positive balance sheet, only four months after his arrival at the head of a selection tossed about by internal storms under the direction of Corinne Deacon. Like a snub to fate after the defeat at the Parc des Princes in 2019 in the quarter-finals of their World Cup against the United States, future world champions.
To live this victory, the defense of the Blue will have to resist the counter-offensives of the Australians, impressive against Denmark in the round of 16. The central hinge composed of captain Wendie Renard and young Montpellier player Maëlle Lakrar, embarrassed in one thigh but available again, will have to make his size and speed speak, to counter the lightning calls of the icon Sam Kerr, star of the competition.
