Amandine Henry does not escape criticism after the qualification of the French women’s team for the final of the League of Nations. The 34-year-old midfielder faltered in the second half against Germany, even before offering a penalty 10 minutes from time.
Five months before the Olympic Games, Amandine Henry and Eugénie Le Sommer, both 34 years old, can conclude their immense careers with the French team with the very first title in the history of the women’s selection. After their victory against Germany (2-1), Friday evening at Groupama Stadium, the Blues challenge Spain in the final of the Nations League, next Wednesday in Seville.
Deprived of his captain Wendie Renard, Hervé Renard will need his executives, winners of the Women’s Champions League on numerous occasions with OL. The challenge is immense against the 2023 world champions. But Henry will have to recover after suffering throughout the second half, even before committing an unfortunate handball which gave the Frauenteam a penalty in the 81st minute (Giulia Gwinn transformed the sentence).
Change to 4-3-3 for the final?
Amandine Henry nevertheless did what was necessary to approach the Final Four of the League of Nations in the best conditions. Before starting her second season at Los Angeles-based Angel City FC, the former Lyon player was loaned to Losc for two months. Excluded on January 20 in D1 Arkéma, she missed three matches before playing one last with the Mastiffs on February 14 (for a 5-1 defeat against FC Fleury in the Coupe de France).
The French midfield will have a lot to do against the Spanish, especially in this part of the field, against the Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati. A tactical change, from a 4-4-2 to 4-3-3, is largely possible, with the entry of Sandie Toletti at number 6 to support Amandine Henry and Grace Geyoro. Le Sommer gave way to Toletti for the last quarter of an hour, but it is Marie-Antoinette Katoto who is in danger in attack…
