The French women’s team leaves the World Cup 2019 after being beaten 2-1 in the quarterfinals by the American team on Friday 28th June, at Parc des Princes (Paris).
A dream that stops abruptly, barely begun: France was eliminated by the United States Friday 28th June 2019 in the quarterfinals in Paris (2-1) and say goodbye to a World Cup that was finally to put full light on female football in France.
The exciting atmosphere at the stadium
The reigning world champions, led by a pair of excellent Megan Rapinoe, will face England in the semi-finals on Tuesday 2nd July at 9pm in Lyon. The reduction of Wendie Renard’s score and the hectic atmosphere of Parc des Princes at the end of the match were not enough.
Despite their ambitions “at home” – to reach the final of July 7 in Lyon – les Bleues have failed to resist the world Number one team, triple world champions (1991, 1999, 2015) and four-time gold medalists at Olympic Games (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012).
Less well than in 2011
It was a failure for the coach corinne diacre who had been recruited in August 2017 to finally create the click, after a series of disillusions and four eliminations shot in the quarterfinals of major tournaments.
It does not do as well as during the World Cup-2011 in Germany where Bruno Bini and his players had reached the semifinal, lost against … USA 3-1.
Too powerful and effective, the Team USA has often printed its rhythm, especially early in the game.
As throughout the tournament, the Americans started the game at a feverish pace with a first attempt of Julie Ertz in the gloves of Sarah Bouhaddi after … 45 seconds. Then the opening of the score from the fifth minute on a free kick left side of the iconic Megan Rapinoe, an offensive figure of the team both on the field and outside with her anti-Donald Trump statements.
On the action, the defender Griedge Mbock can be blamed for having caused the fault by holding the former Lyon Alex Morgan by the arm
🎥 – 5’ – Megan Rapinoe ouvre le score !
⚽️ Son coup-franc côté gauche file dans la surface et termine sa course au fond des filets !
https://t.co/cCSx3xfQcc🇫🇷 0 – 1 🇺🇸#FRAUSA #FIFAWWC à suivre en direct sur @tf1 et @MYTF1 !
— TF1 (@TF1) 28 June 2019
Deceived on their hard time
Rapinoe did not stay there. She scored her fifth goal in this World to the 65 th minute when he rose near a centre of Tobin Heath. She now leads the standings with Alex Morgan, England’s Ellen White and Australia’s Sam Kerr.
🎥 – 65’ – Le doublé pour Megan Rapinoe
⚽️ L’attaquante américaine profite d’un travail d’ Heath côté droit pour ajuster sa frappe et tromper Sarah Bouhaddi.
https://t.co/mNTOav3wSX🇫🇷 0 – 2 🇺🇸#FRAUSA #FIFAWWC à suivre en direct sur @tf1 et @MYTF1 !
— TF1 (@TF1) 28 June 2019
Overall, the Americans, Rapinoe especially, have suffered a nightmare on the French side, including Marion Torrent, struggling against the big size opponents.
Only Amel Majri, Diani Kadidiatou have floated in a difficult first act, unable to frame, however, as the captain Amandine Henry, whose shot flew the 19th minute.
The second period was more contested and electric, especially in a late-game punctuated by the “Allez les Bleues”, which ran down tribunes filled with some personalities including the President of Fifa Gianni Infantino or French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.
Le Sommer disappoints
On a Gaëtane Thiney free kick, Wendie Renard allowed the fans to dream a little while scoring (81st). For a short time.
It is still missing something to these French, too approximate, including Eugenie Le Sommer, who lived a party in the image of his tournament, well below expectations, while she was playing her third World Cup at 30 and has 164 selections in France team.
Despite a first-round mastered with three straight wins, les Bleues will never have managed to find real certainties in the game between the failing frameworks and difficulties in forming the eleven ideal. She had already had to tear into the quarter-final to beat Brazil in the overtime thanks to a goal from Amandine Henry (2-1).
Read also: Women’s World Cup: France wins in pain against Brazil and makes it to the quarterfinals
Facing the Brazilian women, Deacon had left his team Gaetane Thiney, after a failed tournament start. In the quarter, the coach changed her foot again by restarting Thiney. Without success.
Les Bleues see the World Cup escape while everything seemed together, full stadiums, boxes of hearing, growing craze and even a tifo representing Marianne deployed early in the game. A big blow on the head.
