Surprised (1-0) Friday by the Australian co-organizers of the World Cup and worried about the injury of Selma Bacha, the Blue closed their preparation with an embarrassing misstep, the first of the Hervé Renard era, nine days before their entering the World Cup.
The Marvel Stadium in the Docklands district may be adorned with the effigies of many superheroes, there were none on the lawn Friday evening to avoid the France team a defeat which stains, at dawn of the planetary event starting on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. Neither Kadidiatou Diani, still lacking in rhythm, nor Eugénie Le Sommer have donned the costume of saviors against the Australian “Matildas”, well launched a few days before the competition which they have been preparing for a long time.
The tricolor horizon even darkened downright in additional time, with the stretcher exit of Selma Bacha, head in hands, after a clear twist of the left ankle. “The worst news of the evening”, according to Hervé Renard, who was still “cautious” after the meeting while waiting for medical examinations. The hypothesis of a package of this centerpiece of the Blue system would be a disaster for the French, already deprived of Delphine Cascarino, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Amandine Henry, three executives.
The national day in France therefore turned into night fireworks for the Australian public: 50,000 spectators exploded together on the goal of Mary Fowler (66th), who came to conclude a lightning counter-attack in the heart of a second period without going.
In an atypical enclosure mainly dedicated to the local Australian “footy”, the local players succeeded in their mission: to create the sacred union with their fans and to launch the effervescence of a month of competition in the wake of the star of the team. , forward Sam Kerr. The figure of 50,000 spectators is already a local record for the women’s selection, which had never before gathered more than 36,000 people. But the mark will be exploded next Thursday in Sydney, with 80,000 people expected for their opening match against Ireland.
For the French team of Hervé Renard, victorious 3-0 in Ireland at the beginning of July for their previous preparation match, doubt creeps in with this first defeat in four games under the leadership of Corinne Deacon’s successor. “It’s a nice warning, a welcome to Australia,” smiled Renard after the match. “It allows us to get to the heart of the matter.”
The emblematic coach now has nine days before his meeting against Jamaica in Sydney on July 23 (12:00 p.m.) to find the right formulas. The shock against Brazil, the most important deadline, is scheduled for July 29 in Brisbane (12:00 p.m.). Is the explanation to be found in the jet lag, still difficult to cope with five days after a grueling flight of more than twenty hours from France?
Difficult to take that as an excuse, as the blue defense rocked on the multiple Australian attacks, and as the midfielder appeared without solutions. Will the typical team that seemed to emerge be challenged? The culprits are difficult to find individually at the end of a fairly dull collective performance.
The only satisfactions of the preparation: Kenza Dali, sparkling in the middle, and Maëlle Lakrar, rather solid for her 4th selection as right-back while Eve Périsset still seemed unstoppable a few weeks ago. “But we have too often been the world champions of friendly matches. In the past, we won our preparation matches and behind it we did nothing, ”positive Dali, with a smile still on his lips. However, it will be necessary to react quickly to keep it longer.
