There was a shadow of doubt, brushed aside after 20 minutes, and a frayed end to the game. But the France team has, overall, mastered its subject against the modest Panama on Wednesday in Sydney (3-6), for its third and last match of the group stage. A draw was enough no matter what happened to Les Bleues who secured first place in Group F. They were surprised by what will perhaps remain as the best goal of this World Cup: a powerful and precise free kick of the captain, Marta Cox, from the outset (2nd, 1-0).
Stressed? Worried? The players of Hervé Renard, who made five changes in his starting lineup compared to that against Brazil (2-1), did not make the same start as last Saturday. They confused speed and haste, like long shots from Léa Le Garrec or hasty crosses from Vicki Becho. It took a header from Maëlle Lakrar, well found by Clara Mateo, to crack the Panamanian defense (1-1, 21st).
Relief. And no impact on the physiognomy of the match: the Blues have multiplied the assaults, prohibiting access not to their surface, but to their half of the field. Kadidiatou Diani put France in front like a surface vixen, after a lot of work from Becho (28th, 1-2). She added a penalty (37th, 1-3) before a cross from Le Garrec deceived all of Panama to finish in the back of the net (45th 5, 1-4).
Halftime was only a respite for the Panamanians, again taken by the throat at the exit of the locker room. Diani offered himself a hat-trick with another penalty (52nd, 1-5). It is in this way that Panama reduced the gap, by Yomira Pinzon, after a slight avoidable fault by Elisa De Almeida, holder to blow Wendie Renard (64, 2-5). It didn’t call anything into question: after 80 minutes, Panama had 3 shots including 2 on target, France 24 shots including 9 on target. Eloquent.
There followed a relaxation, understandable but inexcusable at this level, as Hervé Renard will not fail to point out. Panama played the game to the end, rewarded with a goal from Lineth Cedeno after a free kick (87th, 3-5). Enthusiastic but washed out, the Panamanians left what space was needed for Ève Périsset for a precise cross, nicely volleyed by Becho, 19 and author of her first international goal (90th 10, 3-6).
At the end of a marathon match (18 minutes of additional time in total), France validated their first place in group F, while Brazil, held in check by Jamaica (0-0), took the door in the same time. Les Bleues, who said they were aiming for the semi-finals of the World Cup, will see at least the eighth. Appointment is made in Adelaide this Tuesday, August 8 (1:00 p.m. metropolitan France time). The opponent will be known this Thursday. It could be Colombia, Morocco, South Korea or Germany, vice-champion of Europe in title.
