After a colorful meeting against Panama (6-3), Les Bleues qualified for the round of 16 of the World Cup in Australia. Led from the outset by the Canaleras thanks to a superb free kick signed by Marta Cox (2′), Hervé Renard’s players were able to reverse the trend to completely take the lead over their opponents in the first half (1-4).
“We could have made the match even easier”
The Central Americans, however, still hoped to come back to the score during the second half. A first time with a penalty transformed by Yomira Pinzón (54′), who thus answered Kadidiatou Diani author of a hat-trick during this meeting (28′, 37′, 52′). And a second time on an infuriating header from Lineth Cedeño (87′). But it was without counting on the tricolor striker Vicki Becho who was responsible for burying the hopes of the Panamanians by scoring the last goal for hers in added time (90 ‘+10).
A real festival of goals which did not really satisfy the coach of the France team, who nevertheless believes that the French have fulfilled their part of the contract by finishing at the top of group F. In the next round, Wendie Renard and her teammates will inherit therefore the second of group H (Colombia, Germany, Morocco, South Korea).
“Many things displeased me in the second half, but we will hide them. We will remember that Jamaica drew against Brazil (0-0), and that it eliminated Brazil. Like what, it was a difficult group! Tonight was a little easier, but we could have made the game even easier. When we were effective and we played simple, it was, but when we started doing anything, we got into trouble. You have to respect football. But congratulations to my players for the result and the first place! »thus confided Hervé Renard at the microphone of France TV.
