Less than ten days before its entry into the running at the 2023 World Cup, the France team lost in a friendly on Friday against Australia (1-0). First setback for Hervé Renard at the head of Les Bleues.
This is a result that will not really reassure supporters of the French women’s football team. A few days after landing in Australia to participate in the 2023 World Cup (July 20-August 20), Les Bleues faced the host national team this Friday near Melbourne. For their last preparation match, Hervé Renard’s daughters were beaten by the smallest of margins (1-0). Some adjustments still need to be made.
After winning against Colombia (5-2), Canada (2-1) and more recently against Ireland (0-3), the French players did not find the key against the Australians to this fourth and final preparatory outing for the World Cup. However, they dominated slightly in terms of ball possession, but the lack of precision and realism in the last gesture, combined with an unreassuring defense, prevented them from avoiding defeat.
Bacha in tears
On the Australian side, it is precisely this famous realism that made the difference. Supported by 50,000 spectators (a record in the country), the Australians took advantage of a well-run counter to open the scoring. A quick overflow from Hayley Raso on the right side, followed by a center on the ground for a Mary Fowler strangely alone at six meters, and the latter had plenty of time to adjust and deceive Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (1-0, 66th ).
A small goal that will finally be enough for the locals to win. As for the Blues, if they continued to do their best to try to equalize (67th, 85th), they will have to work on their defense and refine their offensive automatisms. It will also be necessary to monitor the condition of the ankle of Selma Bacha, victim of a tackle and exit at the very end of the meeting (90th + 7) on injury, on a stretcher and in tears. Hervé Renard would surely have preferred another scenario for this last match before the World Cup.
