The blue wanted a test. They had it. And the white examination narrowly passed, eight days from the entrance at Euro 2025. The French team was jostled before being stunning against Brazil (3-2) this Friday evening at the Alpes in Grenoble stadium, a few kilometers from Switzerland, host country of the continental competition. A victory in the form of roller coaster which offers no certainty, after six months almost perfect lived in 2025.
If the objective was to take air from the Alpine mountains, it is missed. Small by the Grenoble heat, suffocated by the Brazilian pressing, the Blue began this last outing of preparation in the worst in the way. Without Captain Griedge Mbock (muscular discomfort), coach Laurent Bonadei aligned an experimental defense. Young and without coordination.
Brazil, the executioner of France in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Games, took advantage of it thanks to a constant intensity. Kerolin, the Manchester City attacker, tortured Maëlle Lakrar then Selma Bacha. The left side of OL experienced a nightmare with a responsibility engaged on the two goals of the Seleçao, signed Luany (7th, 0-1) and Kerolin (12th, 0-2).
After the freshness break, compulsory in this heat, the Blue found their offensive, obtaining the first good situations. In an end of half-time that could have seen two or three new Brazilian goals, it was France that managed to pick up the scoring. After a post of Kadidiatou Diani, the ball lands on the left foot of Grace Geyoro, evening captain (45th, 1-2). A lesser evil.
“We will see the reaction”
“We will see the attitudes, the reaction because it’s been a long time since we had seen that,” said Laurent Bonadei at the microphone of France 3. Marie-Antoinette Katoto replaced Clara Mateo, a change planned before the meeting, at the forefront of the attack. But it is still Geyoro who benefits from a mudding in front of the surface and sees his strike from the law diverted from the hand by Sampaio with a happy new end (56th, 2-2).
Relaunched, the Blue gradually took a semblance of control. Especially after the entries of Delphine Cascarino or Oriane Jean-François (68th). Cascarino created huge offensive differences to serve Katoto perfectly, author of her 38th goal in 55 selections of the head (76th, 3-2).
“I really wanted a very difficult match,” said Laurent Bonadei at the microphone of France 3. We had it tonight against Brazil, finalist of the Olympic Games. I liked the state of mind of the players who do not give up and believe in the game project. I liked the strength of character and the form of all the players ”.
In a shock made very physical by the Brazilians, the coach will have known some scares (Karchaoui, Katoto, Malard). For sores, we will have to wait this Saturday.
Departure day for the Saint-Gall region, in the northeast of Switzerland, the French team base camp during Euro 2025. In eight days, it will be necessary to face England, title holder, to start competition. Until then, the Habs have work. The multiple decisive judgments of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin will not always hide defensive errors.
