The France team failed to score in their first match at the World Cup against Jamaica on Sunday.
Points shared, few reasons for satisfaction, and doubts that accumulate. The goalless draw of Les Bleues against Jamaica for their entry into the running at the World Cup, Sunday July 23 in Sydney, shed light on the tricolor difficulties in the opposing area. Sunday, the French were particularly disappointing on the offensive level. They lacked efficiency, realism, and simply failed to score, before leaving the pitch with their heads down.
“We had many chances, four or five, and we didn’t manage to score that goal which would have freed us”, regretted coach Hervé Renard, face closed, at a press conference. This is the second game in a row without a goal for the French, nine days after their defeat in preparation against the Australians (1-0). A situation more seen since November 2017 and two friendlies against Sweden and Germany.
“We can do even better”
On the lawn of Sydney Football Stadium, the tricolor attackers were not at the party. Associated as a duo at the forefront of an unprecedented 4-4-2, Eugénie Le Sommer and Kadidiatou Diani did not manage to play much with each other. “I think we can complement each other, but the game meant that we didn’t find each other a lot. We can do even better”estimated the Lyonnaise, who dropped out a lot to help and offer solutions to her teammates, after the meeting. “The chances in the second half, you had to make them happen. The French team used to outclass their opponents in their first games, it’s a habit that is over because football is getting tighter”justified Hervé Renard for his part when explaining the difficulties of his players.
For her part, the ex-Parisian fished for lack of efficiency. If she reassured about her form, able to get into the box until the last minute, she too often missed the target. On five occasions, she found herself in a good position in the aerial duel in the area, but the ball either fled the frame or crashed into the bar. Alternately positioned on the offensive line when the system went back to three attackers, Amel Majri and Clara Matéo ran a lot and centered, but without really managing to bring danger. “We had chances, not them. It’s even more frustrating. We’ll try to make them happen in the upcoming matches”said the OL player.
What attack against Brazil?
Author of a good entry, noticed by her coach, the young Vicki Becho is one of the few to have scored points. “We must salute the entries of Kenza Dali and Vicki Becho, who were effective, especially Vicki who managed to overflow a lot”greeted Hervé Renard after the meeting. For the next match, already decisive, against Brazil, could the French coach be tempted to give more responsibilities to the young Lyonnaise?
Facing the South American champions, he could also have to manage the return of Selma Bacha, who should be recovered from her sprained ankle, and whose speed and explosiveness were lacking in the tricolor camp. With the temptation to immediately put it back on the field? In which tactical system, the offensive record of 4-4-2 having been judged “mixed in the first half like the team, in the second half much better” by Fox? While Les Bleues had already remained silent after an intense match against Australia in Melbourne, the debate on offensive animation is open.