For the first time in their history, the French women’s football team qualified for the final of a major tournament by beating Germany in the Nations League… Olympique de Marseille returned to the success in Ligue 1. The French XV fared poorly during the Six Nations Tournament with a draw against Italy. Back to the weekend’s sports news.
The sporting events that should not be missed, the summary of the five major football championships and the image of the weekend… Here is the France 24 sports recap.
Les Bleues can dream of a first title : The French women’s football team has forgotten its doubts against Germany and will play the first final in its history, Wednesday February 28, against Spain, the reigning world champion, with its sights set on a first trophy just a few minutes away. month of the Paris-2024 Olympics. Against the Germans in the semi-final, Hervé Renard’s players had an almost perfect first half, with high pressing, percussion and a multitude of actions coming from the right side. On the other hand, they showed a different side in the second half, less biting in the duels and less enterprising.
They will have to raise their level again on Wednesday against teammates of the 2023 Ballon d’or Aitana Bonmati, who have been walking on water since their world title in Oceania in mid-August. The Spaniards were once again uncompromising against the Netherlands on Friday, winning very easily (3-0) thanks to Jenni Hermoso (41st), Bonmati (45th) and Ona Batlle (77th).
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⚔️ SPAIN ????????-???????? FRANCE
????️ Wednesday February 28 at 7 p.m.
???? Seville #FiersdetreBleues pic.twitter.com/dluuws9NdO— French Women’s Team (@equipedefranceF) February 24, 2024
The XV of France collects a worrying draw : The French rugby team, still handicapped by a red card, conceded on Sunday in Lille a historic draw at home against Italy (13-13) in the Six Nations Tournament and is sinking into crisis.
It came close to nothing, barely a few centimeters, on the final penalty of the Italian fly-half Paolo Garbisi, which hit a post, for the Blues to add a humiliating defeat to their inaugural rout against Ireland (38-17), barely caught up by the narrow success in Scotland (20-16). France had already lost twice in Rome, in 2011 and 2013, during the dark years of the Philippe Saint-André era. But this draw is already a first which will inevitably have repercussions for the men of coach Fabien Galthié.
A silver and a bronze medal for rugby sevens: Beaten at the last minute by New Zealand in the semi-final, the Blues won a bronze medal, beating the United States 42 to 12, during the Vancouver tournament. Antoine Dupont, the rugby union star recently arrived at VII, this time started the match on the field, with starting status. He quickly distinguished himself at his expense by receiving a yellow card in the second minute of play. A two-minute suspension which offered too much space to the Americans who scored immediately, twice (0-12) .
As soon as he returned to the field, Dupont offered two tries in quick succession to Theo Forner and Aaron Grandidier. The Blues lead at the break (14-12). When we return from the locker room, the bruises unfold. Dupont, again, closed the debates with a personal exploit. (42-12).
Among the girls, the Blues have never been able to believe in a first victory on the world rugby sevens circuit. In western Canada, David Courteix’s players came up against New Zealanders asserting their status as Olympic champions (35-19).
The beautiful epic of the French ping-pong team : It took the impregnable China, crowned for the eleventh time in a row, to put an end to the Lebrun version of the Blues’ epic on Sunday in the final of the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan, South Korea.
On the podium, the big smiles of the brothers Félix and Alexis Lebrun, as well as that of Simon Gauzy, outclassed 3-0 on the tables half an hour earlier, recalled the rarity of the moment. The French table tennis players equaled the Blues’ best result, 27 years after the silver won in 1997 by the “Mousquetaires” led by Jean-Philippe Gatien.
OM regains color, PSG gets scared
Three days after qualifying for the round of 16 of the Europa League, Olympique de Marseille won their first victory of 2024 in Ligue 1 by beating Montpellier (4-1) on Sunday evening at the Vélodrome at the end of the 23rd day. For the first in the league for new coach Jean-Louis Gasset, the Marseillais conceded the opener but reacted well thanks to a goal from Iliman Ndiaye, a double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and a goal against his Falaye Sacko camp.
Unable to find the key against Rennes at the Parc des Princes, PSG avoided the worst by snatching a draw in stoppage time (1-1) on Sunday. Dominant but uninspired in attack, the Parisians broke their teeth against the Rennes wall but a penalty at the last minute from Gonçalo Ramos (90th+7) saved them from a bad start. This result is bad but it does not change much in Paris’ domination in the championship since the players from the capital are eleven lengths ahead of Brest (2nd).
Liverpool wins the League Cup
Undermined by injuries, not helped by VAR, Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool found the resources to overcome Chelsea in the League Cup final (1-0 ap), Sunday, thanks to a goal from captain Virgil van Dijk at the end of extra time.
The Reds, current leaders of the Premier League, offered themselves a new fairy tale in their rich history thanks to a winning helmet shot from the Dutch defender, deprived of a goal on the hour mark, already with a header, cause of a partner’s offside. Liverpool wins its first trophy since 2022, when it had already beaten Chelsea, on penalties, in the final of the two national cups.
In the league, Liverpool remains under direct threat from Manchester City, tiptoeing victorious at Bournemouth (1-0), and the amazing Arsenal, intractable on Saturday against Newcastle (4-1). The leading trio are held in two points at the end of a fatal 26th day at Manchester United, beaten 2-1 in added time at Fulham.
AC Milan is still treading water
In the shock of the 26th day of Serie A, AC Milan and Atalanta parted with a parity score at San Siro (1 – 1). However, the Rossoneri started well by opening the score quickly through Rafael Leao (3′). But as usual, the Bergamots are tenacious and they proved it by coming back to score just before the break thanks to a penalty from Teun Koopmeiners (42′).
With 53 points, the Milanese continued a second match without a victory and let second Juventus escape (57 pts). This draw also does not do the business of Orobici who lose their fourth place to Bologna with two points behind.
Real Madrid resume their march towards the title
Luka Modric, relegated to the bench this season, allowed Real Madrid to win (1-0) at home on Sunday against Sergio Ramos’ Sevilla FC, with a gem from the right, a few minutes after coming into play. The 2018 Ballon d’Or delivered the Santiago Bernabéu with a perfectly curled shot at the entrance to the area worthy of his best years in the Merengue jersey (81st, 1-0), while Carlo Ancelotti’s men struggled to make the difference despite several clear chances.
A splendid goal which gives the La Liga leader three crucial points in the title race. The Madrid club (1st, 65 points) is eight lengths ahead of FC Barcelona (2nd, 57 points) and nine ahead of Girona (3rd, 56 points), which can nevertheless make up part of its deficit by winning at home against Rayo Vallecano on Monday at the end of this 26th day.
The bad deal for Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund lost (3-2) Sunday evening at home against Hoffenheim during the 23rd day of the German championship. He missed an opportunity to consolidate his fourth place in the Bundesliga against Leipzig. In the three-way fight for the third and fourth qualifying places for the next Champions League (the first two seemingly promised to Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich), it is ultimately Stuttgart, author of a draw at home against Cologne, who performs the correct operation.
Because this weekend, RB Leipzig lost in added time on the pitch of Bayern Munich (2-1) and Dortmund, led by the score (1-0) after two minutes, then went back in front (2-1 ), finally offered the three points to Hoffenheim on a platter.
At 70, Jean-Louis Gasset takes the reins of Olympique de Marseille. After a long career often spent in the role of assistant coach and some success as a rescuer of clubs in distress, he must breathe new life into an OM that is running out of steam. His method? Proximity, frankness and mental work.
Read Close to the players, often No. 2… Who is Jean-Louis Gasset, the new OM coach?
Antoine Dupont, the star rugby union player, recently arrived within the French rugby sevens team, gained momentum throughout the weekend during the Vancouver tournament, where the Blues won a medal bronze, beating the United States (42 to 12). AFP – DON MACKINNON
With AFP
