Led 2-0, the tricolor players worked to offer themselves a first victory under the orders of Hervé Renard, Friday evening, in Clermont.
A reaction victory to launch a new era. The France team won against Colombia on Friday, April 7, in a friendly match at the Gabriel-Montpied stadium in Clermont, for Hervé Renard’s first match on the Bleues bench (5-2). Led by two goals after returning from the locker room, the French overturned the match in ten minutes just before the hour mark.
The new coach of the France team may have hoped for a quieter start, but he has his first victory. A symbolic success that the Blue went to seek, after a very complicated first period, by drawing on their strength of character. In front of 11,309 supporters who woke up as their offensives progressed, they first recovered their delay before taking off on the scoreboard.
Relaunched by entrants
Victory already bears the Hervé Renard signature, and the coach has helped build it through his winning choices. Upon returning from the locker room, while Les Bleues were behind, Renard made a triple change and Delphine Cascarino entered the lawn. The Lyonnaise launched the revolt in the blue camp. In the legs, she brought her speed and explosiveness to a struggling French attack. It was she who reduced the gap in the wake of the second Colombian goal (51st), and led the very successful second period of the French, even offering a double (73rd).
Another great architect of French success, Eugénie Le Sommer has also returned all the confidence that her coach had placed in her. For her return to the blue jersey after two years of absence, directly established in the freshness of Clermont, the top scorer in the history of the France team offered herself an express double in three minutes (56th, 59th). She also went to celebrate her second achievement with a joyful hug with Renard on the bench. Replaced shortly after the hour mark, she was one of the first to get up to greet the last French goal, scored by Grace Geyoro in added time. Something to end with a smile, like the whole group and staff.
Work on set pieces
But against Colombia, the brand new coach was also able to observe the work he still has to do with this team. Throughout the first period, his Blues were shy, borrowed. Mistresses of the ball (68% possession), they did not know how to be dangerous. Above all, they trapped themselves, conceding two goals on two free kicks after faults at the entrance to the area (35th, 50th). Mistakes that will have to be corrected from the next match, Tuesday, April 11 at Le Mans, against the Canadian Olympic champions, for the last meeting before the list for the World Cup.