Three years after the final lost by France against Lionel Messi’s Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it is the young Bleuets who are left behind at the end of a fatal penalty shootout, still in the small Gulf emirate which holds PSG. In 2024, the Technical Directorate of the FFF has established a strategy to improve the performance of the different French selections during penalties. This is therefore a new failure in this exercise.
In the wake of its stormy qualification against Colombia (2-0), in the round of 16 of the U17 World Cup, Lionel Rouxel’s French team has long believed in victory against Brazil (1-1, 3 tab to 4), Tuesday evening at the Aspire Zone (where Aspetar is located, the ultra-modern hospital often used by PSG).
Rémi Himbert, winger from the OL academy, gave the Bleuets the advantage in the first period, following a penalty not converted by the Trojan Christ Batola (33rd).
Ilan Jourdren, unfortunate hero
The Auriverde only equalized at the end of the match. Ruan Pablo first sent a penalty to Ilan Jourdren’s post (83rd). The France staff used the green card to force the referee to check the images, but the official did not change his decision. Then it was Pietro Tavares who equalized for the Brazilians with a magnificent half-volley from the left in the 89th minute.
Directly after the final whistle of the second period, during the penalty shootout, Ilan Jourdren (Jeoffrey’s son, who plays for RC Lens) repelled the fourth Brazilian attempt, but Milan Leccese, OM midfielder, did not convert the fifth French “péno” and the man named Ruan Pablo sent his country to the quarter-finals, for a shock against the winner of Morocco-Mali.
