By Maël Chrétien
Published yesterday at 9:32 p.m., Updated yesterday at 11:51 p.m.
Aitana Bonmati’s La Roja outclassed Eugénie Le Sommer’s France. REUTERS / Marcelo del Pozo / AFP / JORGE GUERRERO
The French women’s team was no match for Spain (2-0), the reigning world champion, this Wednesday, in Seville, in the final of the League of Nations.
TOPS
Two teams, one class apart
There was no photo in this final of the Women’s Nations League, won 2-0 by the Spanish against France. Very quickly, Spain got their foot on the ball, and didn’t let go until the end of the match. By settling into the French camp, Bonmati and company created the best opportunities and were able to set up their pressing each time they lost the ball. As a result, the Blues failed to improve the balls they recovered, overwhelmed by the harassment of the players in red. Athletically too, La Roja was a cut above, as evidenced by the constant defensive returns of the entire team. This collective is more established than any other at the moment, as Hervé Renard agrees: “Spain dominates world football, and tonight the best team won.”
Read alsoWomen’s Nations League: outclassed by Spain in the final, the Blues will still wait for their first trophy
Karchaoui above the rest
While his team was gradually getting closer to collective disaster, Sakina Karchaoui did not slow down during the 90 minutes. Placed on the left flank of the defense, the French side well contained the ardor of Del Castillo, and with muscular interventions. On several occasions, she did not hesitate to tackle, push, jump (despite being 60 meters tall). In short, she was more combative than the others, and that is what is required in a final. The Parisian kept up with the event, while her teammates sometimes just looked at her.
FLOPS
Fragile on set pieces
Under Spanish rule, French women suffered. On placed attacks, they were rather successful in containing the opposing offensives, but one area in particular suffered, that of crosses and set phases. Constantly overwhelmed, the Blues have very rarely been able to mark their opponents. Peyraud-Magnir was often pushed around in her area on a corner, Roja captain Paredes’ header hit the post (25th), then Aleixandri Lopez also came close to scoring (46th). Both times, they were alone. Same observation on the two goals conceded. Despite the French presence in the last meters, the Spanish attackers arrived with momentum. First the Golden Ball Aitana Bonmati, and after, Mariona Caldentey, and each time it was already too late.
Le Sommer, Katoto, Diani and Bacha mute
With all these great names, the French team has world-class attackers in its ranks, but this Wednesday evening in Seville, none were able to perform. The duo Eugénie Le Sommer – Marie-Antoinette Katoto did not offer any possibilities, which gave some very telling sequences. A few times, Kadidiatou Diani advanced into the Spanish camp, and chained touches of the ball before coming back, having no short game solution. So the Lyonnaise often locked herself on her right side, as Selma Bacha did on her left wing. Le Sommer still had the opportunity to reduce the gap in the second half (81st), without success. Then some good movements finally appeared after the exits of Katoto, Diani and Bacha, replaced respectively by Cascarino, Dufour and Majri. But it still wasn’t enough. 2 shots in 90 minutes, the results are low.
