Les Bleues qualified for the round of 16 after their victory against Panama – Liberation

2023-08-02 14:21:03

Thanks to goals from Diani, Le Garrec and Lakrar, the France team won 6-3 on Wednesday August 2 against Panama. The team coached by Hervé Renard retains the lead of its group and qualifies for the round of 16.

A tennis score. Four days after their victory against Brazil, the French confirmed this Wednesday, August 2 by beating the Pamana team 6 goals to 3 at the packed Sydney Football Stadium. After two physically intense matches, the French showed a much better level against the players of Panama coach Ignacio Quintana.

However, this third and last match of the group stage for group F had started badly: with a Panamanian cannonball. From the first minute, the captain of Panama Marta Cox, jostled by the French Le Garrec, gets a fault and rolls up her free kick in the top corner. A sumptuous goal, the most beautiful to date of the competition, which comes to wake up the French women.

They react 20 minutes later with the goal of Maëlle Lakrar. The defender takes a cross from Clara Mateo with a powerful header and equalizes. Eight minutes later, it was Kadidiatou Diani who distinguished himself by attempting a Madjer in the penalty area of ​​Panama, before concluding by sending a missile under the bar. Unstoppable for Panamanian goalkeeper Yenith Bailey.

First World Cup hat-trick for a French player

A few minutes before half-time, referee Maria Laura Fortunato indicates the penalty spot after a handball in the box. Kadidiatou Diani converts the penalty with a low shot to the right of the goal, catching Bailey on the wrong foot to earn a double. The first period ended with a new goal from the French team: midfielder Léa Le Garrec sent a long cross into the penalty area. The ball lands in front of the line and ends up in the net.

As soon as the recovery, the Blues drive the point home. A new penalty whistled after a hand in the area allows Kadidiatou Diani to afford a hat-trick. It is the first time that a French player has scored three goals in a World Cup match. No quadruple however for Diani, exit on the hour mark by Hervé Renard and replaced by Laurina Fazer.

After a foul by Elisa De Almeida, Panama obtains a penalty converted by Yomira Pinzon. Panama then returned to 5 goals to 2 with a quarter of an hour remaining in the match. The French slow down and commit many faults. Something to motivate Panamanians. And striker Lineth Cedeno who scored the third goal with a header after a very long free kick and a scramble in the penalty area. Three minutes from the end of stoppage time, a constructed attack from the France team allows Périsset to bring the ball to the side and send a millimeter center to the striker Vicki Becho who has only to cut in front of goal to score the sixth goal for the France team.

Yet badly embarked on the competition after their inaugural draw against Jamaica (0-0), the Blues were able to reverse the trend by beating Brazil. Against Panama, a draw would have been enough to validate their ticket for the round of 16. In this last day of group F, the big surprise came from the other match: by conceding the draw (0-0) against Jamaica, the Brazilians are eliminated while their opponents of the day will play in the eighth.