French women dominate New Zealand thanks to a double from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and join Brazil in the quarter-finals

Without forcing, the French team finished top of its group on Wednesday, following its victory against the Ferns (2-1).

They fulfill their mission, but do not completely reassure. Les Bleues reached the quarter-finals of their Olympic Games on Wednesday, July 31, after winning against a weak New Zealand for their last group match (2-1). A result that allows them to finish in first place in the group, since Canada won against Colombia at the same time (1-0). The French team will face Brazil, third in Group C, on Saturday, August 3 in Nantes.

As has been the case since the start of the tournament, the French team relied on the inevitable Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who scored her fourth (22nd, 1-0) and fifth (49th, 2-1) goals of the week, to avoid the possibility of a very embarrassing elimination. Less successful, Delphine Cascarino hit the Kiwi posts three times (41st, 54th, 59th). And yet, the French still managed to get punished before the break by Kate Taylor, who was not attacked 25 metres out on a throw-in and scored from afar on the Ferns’ first opportunity (42nd, 1-1).

A new relaxation that was ultimately without any seriousness. The fact remains that when it comes to taking stock of this mixed first round, we will remember that France would have been second, without the six points deduction inflicted by FIFA on the Canadians for their affair of spying by drone on the training of their future opponents. Well off, the Blues thus avoid a clash against Germany.