Time for the knockout matches to return. Five months before the Olympic Games, the Blues host Germany in the Nations League semi-finals, Friday February 23 in Lyon (9 p.m. live on France 3 and france.tv). The French women will try to get closer to the very first title in their history. If they win, they will face the Netherlands or Spain in the final on February 28, who will face each other simultaneously.
Find the parade without Wendie Renard
The French are approaching this meeting without their defender Wendie Renard (153 caps), injured in a hip. The captain will be missed in the air, especially against star striker Alexandra Popp. The axis of the tricolor rearguard will have a lot to do.
A Germany on the rise
The Germans shattered Les Bleues’ dream in the semi-finals of Euro 2022, before losing in the final against England. Since then, the Nationalelf has experienced a bitter failure, with elimination from the 2023 World Cup groups. However, it got back on the right path by finishing first in its Nations League group. Above all, it remains the bane of the Blues, never victorious against Germany in official competition.
A record attendance
The attendance record for a Les Bleues match in France, outside the World Cup, will be broken this evening. Nearly 30,000 people are expected at Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu (Rhône), more than the 26,453 spectators who came to Rennes against Norway in November. But this attendance turns out to be paradoxically disappointing, in a stadium with twice the capacity.