Still in the run-in, the French women’s team launched its World Cup year with a difficult victory against Denmark (1-0), Wednesday February 15 in Laval, at the opening of the Tournoi de France, marked by the return of Kheira Hamraoui.
Five months before the World Cup in Australia (July 20-August 20), the Blues still seem to be looking for benchmarks, automation and a tactical system. On the banks of the Mayenne, victory only took shape through a personal feat by Charlotte Bilbault, who scored with a long shot (31e), his second achievement in selection.
The partners of Wendie Renard have an appointment on Saturday with the Uruguayans and on Tuesday with the Norwegians to try to lift this honorary trophy, and to reassure themselves a little with a view to the World Cup. Their evening performance against the 18e world nation, without a big name and without its star Pernille Harder, was not enough, in any case, to sweep away the doubts that have crossed this French team since Euro 2022, finished in the semi-finals against Germany (2 -1).
The success nevertheless allows Les Bleues to tip the scales on the right side, after having suffered three defeats in their last six matches, and to validate a passing point, as coach Corinne Deacon confirmed after the victory: “I found us to be serious and diligent, even if everything was not perfect. The players stayed focused, and we didn’t suffer a lot of chances. It was an interesting match, and I don’t think a 2-0 would have been stolen. The players respected the instructions, they were serious. »
Hamraoui tactical and surprise tests
Customary of confusing team compositions, Corinne Deacon had surprised again by aligning Kheira Hamraoui, preferred to Grace Geyoro, despite her very low playing time at Paris Saint-Germain, where her relations remain icy with certain partners, fifteen months after the assault of which she was the victim.
For his 40e selection, one year after the 39ethe 33-year-old midfielder remained quite timid in the construction of the game, which essentially went through the wings or through long balls towards the attackers. “She needs to play, she needs benchmarks. We went back to two midfielders, which she did not necessarily do in her club. Both of them (with Charlotte Bilbault) need to look at each other a little more to compensate for their movements, ” estimated Corinne Deacon at a press conference.
Another opposite in the starting “eleven”: the choice to align a system with five defenders, including three centrals. Only two of the eight midfielders called up in the list of 26 players could therefore be established.
Already tested in November 2022 against Norway (2-1) in a friendly, the tactical scheme showed its weaknesses: capricious ball exits, permanent use of long balls and markers still to be perfected… even though Renard and Kadidiatou Diani had pointed out in recent days the need to recreate “a gaming identity” (Diani) et de “tweaking the automation” (Renard).
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A device that is supposed to be able to bring speed to the transition game, according to Corinne Deacon: “It’s a system that we already put in place in November. We need several strings to our bow. It allows us to proceed a little more in quick attacks. Tonight, we weren’t as efficient as I would have liked, but it gives another palette to our game.”
An unprecedented defense
The French still logically dominated the debates, in the wake of an interesting Estelle Cascarino for her troubleshooting as a left side, replacing Selma Bacha and Sakina Karchaoui, injured, like Griedge Mbock and Marie-Antoinette Katoto.
It was after one of Cascarino’s breakthroughs that Bilbault found the fault, after a “gift” boost from the Danish defense.
The same Estelle Cascarino even found the post in the second half, on a cross from her sister Delphine (53e), the hottest occasion of the meeting. The Laval evening, in a good-natured atmosphere and in front of 7,400 spectators, also allowed Deacon to see Sandy Baltimore again, restless on his left flank after missing the last two rallies.
The coach also offered her first selection to Bordelaise Julie Thibaud, in an experimental central defense with Renard and Hawa Cissoko (8 selections). A sector still under construction, just five months from the World Cup, the ultimate goal of a selection still without an international trophy.
