a prowling team, the Lakrar surprise… Lessons learned from Les Bleues’ first warm-up match

The France team won against Ireland (3-0) on Thursday evening, before flying to Australia and the World Cup.

The first test is validated. The French team dominated Ireland (3-0) after a first draft match then much more serious, at Tallaght Stadium, in the suburbs of Dublin, Thursday, July 6. After two weeks of gathering, the Blues have found match sensations, and were able to gauge themselves individually and collectively. On the side of Hervé Renard and the staff, the meeting was rich in lessons, halfway through the preparation before the start of their tournament.

A rise in physical and technical power

They took a long time to find their rhythm. After a difficult first period that looked like a run-in, which hinted at defensive largesse and in the construction of the game, the French women corrected the situation. Liberated by their two lightning goals (45+1st, 45+3rd) and the ascendancy taken over their opponents, they managed to deploy their game, offer diversity and variations, and put pressure on the opposing goal (seven shots in the second half). Rather auspicious, while there are still 16 days before the first game against Jamaica.

A good review of attacking squad

It is an expected and observed sector, with injuries, withdrawals, novelties and returns. Thursday evening against the “Girls in Green”, the tricolor attackers were reassuring. The only scorer of the evening among the offensives, Eugénie Le Sommer confirmed that she should be counted on among the potential starters. Sidelined for three months through injury, Kadidiatou Diani also delivered an encouraging performance for an hour, able to make contact and visibly not bothered by her shoulder. Repositioned at the front by Hervé Renard, the training side Selma Bacha gave a lot on her left side, while Clara Matéo, Naomie Feller and Vivianne Asseyi all had playing time.

Maëlle Lakrar makes an impression

She almost stole the show from the forwards. Established on the right side of the defense in place of Eve Périsset, accustomed to the position, Maëlle Lakrar amazed. Author of the opener, under the astonished and amused eyes of her teammates on the bench, the Montpellier player scored twice. These are his first two goals in the France team, for his third selection only. Left on the bench and coming into play in the first two games under the command of Hervé Renard, the 23-year-old player made a strong impression for 75 minutes, before being replaced by Eve Périsset. Who will occupy the back of the right lane against Australia in eight days? The debate may have started.


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