2023-07-29 08:33:21
France faces Brazil on Saturday in the second match of Group F. The French, who started their World Cup with a draw (0-0) against Jamaica, hope to return to victory against the Brazilians, who have triumphed over Panama. (4-0). This clash France-Brazil will be to follow liveblog live on France24.com.
Published on: 07/29/2023 – 08:33Modified on: 07/29/2023 – 09:32
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Badly embarked on the World Cup, the Blues approach without certainty the summit of their first round against Brazil, Saturday July 29 (12 p.m.) in Brisbane (Australia). An attractive poster but blurred by the unknown who remains on the physical state of their captain Wendie Renard.
This is a first turning point for Hervé Renard’s team and its great ambitions: in front of nearly 50,000 spectators, Les Bleues no longer really have the right to make mistakes after their inaugural draw against Jamaica (0- 0).
Four years after the memorable France-Brazil World Cup at home, a 2-1 victory after extra time in the round of 16 in Le Havre, and 25 years after that of the men in the final in 1998, France has a lot to lose in this five-star poster . A defeat against the Seleção of the legend Marta would spell the end of the hopes of first place in group F and would condemn the Blue ones to a probable round of 16 against the dreaded Germans.
But that’s only the best-case scenario. Because the fear of a catastrophic elimination from the group stage, a first for twenty years, would suddenly be very real: the Blues would no longer have their destiny in hand, even in the event of victory against the modest Panama on Wednesday (12 h) in Sydney, at the end of the first round.
On the other hand, a success against the South Americans, eighth nation in the world which has never beaten the Blues, would open the doors of the final phase wide, undoubtedly with the first place in the group.
“It’s up to us to be ourselves”
In the middle of the summer crossover Saturday in France, Hervé Renard remains convinced of having taken the right route towards a first international trophy, the dream of a talented generation and an ambitious Federation. “There is no stress to be had” nevertheless delays Hervé Renard, while recalling the “particular resonance” of such a shock. “A World Cup is lived intensely. These are unforgettable moments, which can be fantastic, so we have to free ourselves. It’s up to us to be ourselves”.
But the baggage of the Bleues is quite heavy on the road to Brisbane Stadium: there are the doubts born of the first match, quite tasteless and worrying offensively, and above all the injuries. By adding up the absences and the physical glitches suffered since the start of the preparation, the French coaching staff could indeed constitute a hell of a starting lineup …
On Saturday, he is above all suspended by major uncertainty concerning his captain Wendie Renard, a defender with a significant impact from the height of her 33 years, 147 selections and four World Cups played.
The Martiniquaise, diminished by a “glitch” in the left calf, “knows her body” and “will make the decision” herself with a view to tenure, said Hervé Renard. But “we need her”, he launched, relaunching the liar poker game started since Monday as to the real state of this Blue executive.
The memory of France-Brazil of 2019
“She is preparing as if she was going to play. We have the advantage of having someone who knows her body well”, positive with AFP Jean-Michel Aulas, head of the delegation in Australia and close to Renard for having had her in his ranks as president of Olympique Lyonnais (OL).
In recent days, the hypothesis of seeing it start, even if it means resting Wednesday (12 p.m.) against Panama, has been put forward by several sources close to the Blues.
The experience of the captain will not be too much against the Seleção, at the top of the group after his demonstration against Panama (4-0).
Rejuvenated and enthusiastic under the leadership of a renowned coach in women’s football, Sweden’s Pia Sundhage, the Brazilian team is counting on its revelation Ary Borges, three times goalscorer in the first match, and on the aura of its “queen” Marta (37), expected in the second half.
Opposite, the Kadidiatou Diani-Eugénie Le Sommer duo tries to summon the memory of France-Brazil in 2019, the emotional peak of the previous edition, one evening in June when nearly 12 million people had turned on their TV to see Amandine Henry deliver Les Bleues in overtime.
Four years later, without Amandine Henry injured, without extension and in front of two to three times fewer viewers, France dreams of the same outcome.
With AFP
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