France Archives - WORLD-REPORT

Soccer Results and Highlights [2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand] Goal Collection

Sat 29 Jul 2023 19:00

Group F France 2-1 Brazil

Renard rescues France as Brazil edged out

A late header from captain Wendie Renard gave France a vital 2-1 win against their biggest 2023 Women’s World Cup (WWC) group rivals Brazil, sending them top and preserving their all-time unbeaten record against the South American side.

France failed to find any sort of rhythm in their goalless WWC opener against Jamaica, but they were immediately able to find more space in attack against a more enterprising Brazil side. The South Americans were handed a clear warning when record-goalscorer Eugénie Le Sommer flicked a header towards the far post, but Letícia scrambled across brilliantly to divert it away from the target.

With that sight at goal out of the way, Le Sommer, who returned to the national side ahead of the tournament after a two-year hiatus, would make no mistake when presented with a second opportunity. Winger Kadidiatou Diani sent Sakina Karchaoui’s looped ball back across for the lurking Le Sommer, and this time she directed her header out of reach of the flailing goalkeeper. With Brazil behind courtesy of that national-record sixth personal WWC goal for the legendary striker, Pia Sundhage’s side looked to draw level. The dancing feet of Debinha gave Adriana acres of space in the France area, but the Orlando Pride winger ballooned her shot well over.

France had learned their lesson – their opponents had no more significant opportunities for the remainder of the half, but Sundhage’s words in the dressing room made all the difference to her side’s play. The danger posed by the Brazilian front line was suddenly as apparent as it had been in their 4-0 win against Panama, and their luck was in when Kerolin’s shot ricocheted into the path of Debinha, who expertly prodded past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin from close range. The equaliser prompted play to open up, and both sides began to create chances, but ultimately it was France to strike the killer blow.

An excellent Selma Bacha found a completely unmarked Renard at the far post, and the towering France captain headed the ball down and into the net, sending the small French portion of the Brisbane crowd into pandemonium. Les Bleues even had the better of the late chances as they saw out the result, one which means that they ascend above their opponents to the top of Group F, while Brazil will now have a keen eye on Saturday’s late game, in which a win for Jamaica would see them slip out of the top two ahead of the final matchday.

Player of the Match: Selma Bacha (France)

Group F France 0:0 Jamaica Results and Highlights [2023 FIFA Women’s Football World Cup Australia/New Zealand] Goals

Group F Brazil 4:0 Panama Results and Highlights [2023 FIFA Women’s Soccer World Cup Australia/New Zealand] Goals

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand Open Summary result

Soccer Results and Highlights [2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand] Goal Collection

Saturday 23 July 2023 19:00

Group F France 0:0 Jamaica

Fans stay Syd-entary in goalless slog
17 h ago, Ben Sully
Jamaica created a piece of history at the Sydney Football Stadium as they held France to a 0-0 draw, duly clinching their first point at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

After losing all three games at their only previous World Cup appearance in 2019, Jamaica knew they would have their work cut out to compete with the fifth-highest ranked side in the world. As it proved, the Reggae Girlz would have been proud of their dogged first-half performance, frustrating Hervé Renard’s side for the majority of the first period. Such was Jamaica’s workrate, France’s first meaningful chance did not arrive until the 36th minute, when Kadidiatou Diani forced Rebecca Spencer into a near-post save.

Not entirely content with merely keeping France at bay, Jamaica offered their own threat through Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw, who fizzed the ball just wide from a long-range free-kick. Back came France, and Diani had one final opportunity before the HT interval, but her deflected effort evaded the Jamaican goal, ensuring the contest stood goalless at the break.

Looking to find the net in a ninth consecutive World Cup game, France made a bright start to the second half. Eugénie Le Sommer’s deep cross to the back post was nodded wide by Diani, before Sandie Toletti blazed over from inside the box. As Jamaica continued to hold firm, coach Renard summoned the dangerous Kenza Dali from the bench, and she nearly had an immediate impact, sending a cross onto the head of Diani, though she was unable to convert.

Diani would have been cursing her luck when she struck the woodwork in the closing stages, and there was still time for a moment of drama in stoppage time, when Shaw was shown a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Wendie Renard. Jamaica managed to cling on for a deserved point and their first World Cup clean sheet. Looking back on a poor result by their lofty standards, France will now prepare for a mouthwatering contest against Brazil, while Jamaica will attempt to claim three points against Group F’s lowest seeds Panama.

Player of the Match: Allyson Swaby (Jamaica)

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand Open Summary