Les Bleues signed two victories against Colombia and Canada for their last home games before the World Cup this summer.
Two first outings for the Blue Renard version, two last meetings at home, and already the projection towards Australia this summer. After Colombia, the France team ended its April rally with a benchmark victory against Canada (2-1). A good note 100 days from the opening match of the World Cup. Franceinfo: sport takes stock of this gathering.
A group still open
The list for Australia is still far from complete. If the two meetings of this international break were the last chance to show up in the blue jersey, Hervé Renard assured that his group was still under construction. “You have to be able to count on a lot of players and not just a starting eleven”, he said after the victory against Canada. On this gathering, Hervé Renard called up 27 players to Clairefontaine, and played 20 of them on the two meetings. “Nothing is done, we must also count the return of injuries”he recalled. “Some were not part of this group but can still knock on the door. There will be competition.”
An attack already at the rendezvous
Les Bleues reassured on the offensive level. With seven goals scored in two games, more than in the first three games of the year in February, the French attack shone during this international break. “It’s quite a tcollective work, in the organization, the way we can go to press”welcomed Hervé Renard. The return of Eugénie Le Sommer, top scorer of this selection, is undoubtedly not foreign to it. In his wake, other offensive bosses held their rank, such as Delphine Cascarino, very prominent during the two meetings and author of a double against Colombia, or Grace Geyoro, two achievements to her credit too. This team has quality up front and knows how to score goals. Reassuring, three months from the World Cup.
A defense yet to be found
This is perhaps the sector that will give the most trouble to the staff of the Blue. In difficulty against Colombia, more solid but still permeable against Canada, the tricolor defense did not give complete satisfaction. Hervé Renard is still groping to find the right formula. “I looking for a player capable of playing on the right side, Eve felt a little lonely […] He needed a bit of competition”, he explained to justify the tenure of Elisa De Almeida on the right of the defense on Tuesday. A shift that benefited Estelle Cascarino, who “deserved to start a game” and that his coach wanted to see in action. Selma Bacha and Sakina Karchaoui also both had their chance on the left. What to leave several options for the big deadline to come.
A mind to keep
On this gathering, the Blues also showed a major quality: a certain mental strength, carried by the experienced players. Led by two goals by Colombia during the first meeting, they found the resources to reverse the situation and give a small slap to the South Americans (5-2). Against Canada, after a first period where they dominated without succeeding in scoring, they managed to wear down their opponents, and resisted their comeback after closing the gap. “The players were almost perfect”, summarized their coach following this second victory. A state of mind that they have every interest in cultivating to aim as high as possible this summer.