Have we already found a replacement for Marie-Antoinette Katoto? Already qualified in the quarter-finals, the Blue played a last group match against Iceland on Monday, which was a rehearsal for the quarter-final to come against the Netherlands on Saturday. Melvine Malard, the OL striker, had been established at the forefront of the French attack, preferred in particular to Sarr to replace “MAK”, injured in the knee.
The 22-year-old proved Corinne Deacon, the coach, right from the first minute of play. On her second ball of the game, Melvine Malard scored a very nice goal, after only 43 seconds of play. nice handover to Matéo, then a cross shot with the left foot to offer a quieter match to the France team.
It is the fastest goal of this Euro, after Linda Sällstrom’s Finnish opener against Spain, and one of the two fastest goals in the history of a Women’s Euro. It is the second fastest goal in the history of Les Bleues in a major competition, after the achievement in 34 seconds by Marie-Laure Délie against Mexico, during the 2015 World Cup.
Melvine Malard made a dedication in homage to Marie-Antoinette Katoto, celebrating her opening of the score mimicking an M with her hands. The PSG player left the Bleues prematurely, victim of a rupture of the cruciate ligaments and a crack of the meniscus in the right knee. She will be replaced by Sarr in the 79th minute of play.
First in their group, the French will play a quarter-final against the Netherlands, defending champions. It will take efficiency in attack, and the formula may have already been sketched out by the sharp projections of Melvine Malard.