The glass roofs on the roof of New York Stadium in Rotherham may have been out of reach for the French, but they managed to break this glass ceiling of the quarter-finals of the Euros, beating the Netherlands at the end of the extra time (1-0).
After three consecutive failures at the gates of the last continental square (2009, 2013, 2017), July 23, 2022 will remain a historic evening for the national women’s team which, moreover, wins against the defending champions.
“The girls didn’t give up and I think it’s beautiful. Tonight’s perseverance paid off.” summarized, relieved, the coach of the Blue Corinne Deacon at the end of the game.
In Blue since 2011, Wendie Renard, who is competing in her third European championship, set the tone: “The past is part of my story but also that of the selection. And it is together that we will change it. We will have to suffer together, also have fun, play, let go. »
Rediscovered intensity
Corinne Deacon had chosen to keep the 4-3-3 – four defenders, four midfielders and three attackers – while reconnecting with a certain hierarchy: Griedge Mbock regained his place in defense. Apart from this return and the tenure of Melvine Malard to compensate for the absence of Marie-Antoinette Katoto, injured until the end of the tournament, the Northerner has renewed the same eleven as the one who had struck down Italy in the opening (5-1 ).
“France is the favourite. A team with this much quality must at least fight for the title in every major final phase,” planned before the game for The world Dutch international Anouk Dekker, winner of Euro 2017, but absent for this Euro. “I think they will approach it as against Italy and that we will have a more dynamic match”, abounded for his part Camille Abily before the meeting. The former international with 183 caps was right.
The Tricolores could have more effectively avoided cold sweats and thirty extra minutes, but the third FIFA nation managed to assume its status. From the first moments, the French have shown consistency, taking the Dutch environment by the throat, reputed to be one of the best established in the world.
Selma Bacha, the paying choice of Corinne Deacon
The famous “synergy” evoked by Corinne Deacon at the end of the inaugural recital against the Transalpines resurfaced at the best time, against a reduced Batavian team, without Lieke Martens and the titular goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal, injured, and with Vivianne Miedema, the star of the Dutch team, in poor shape, after contracting Covid-19.
Despite an overwhelming domination (33 shots to 9), the lack of success of the French, who had three clear chances in the first period, with the post of Delphine Cascarino and two saves on the Van de Gragt line, was able to revive the old ghosts of previous editions. Especially when Wendie Renard implored the sky when her header from a corner was taken out by the door Daphne van Domselaar at the end of the game (93e) .
But a new breath was found on the hour mark, when the coach chose to launch Selma Bacha in place of Melvine Malard, marking the start of a tactical reorganization, with Kadidiatou Diani at the forefront and Delphine Cascarino on the right. The number 4 has not ceased to take its lane, multiplying the centers and the breakthroughs. The Lyonnaise, elected player of the match, was also at the origin of what should have been the winning goal if Grace Geyoro had not missed the inevitable with a header from five meters (88e)
At the end of the 99e minute, Kadidiatou Diani was mowed down by Dominique Janssen. After a few moments of negotiations in front of the video assistance screen, Ms. Martincic designated the penalty spot. In charge of penalties, Wendie Renard let Eve Perisset execute the sentence (102e), son 4e goal in selection, probably the most important. A nice snub to history, she who had missed the quarter of Euro 2017 lost to England, due to suspension. And a 100% “1994-1995 generation” goal, provoked by Diani and transformed by the Chelsea side.
“This generation has won everything: they are U17 world champions, U19 European champions, bronze medalists at the U20 world championships. These are girls who are attracted to titles. It is time to conclude with a lot of gusto”, summarizes the former youth team coach, Gilles Eyquem.
Cooler Germans
The objective is clear, as Corinne Deacon recalled, on June 14, during the preparation, in Clairefontaine: “It’s to do six times ninety minutes, minimum. » In other words, reach the final on July 31 at Wembley. Before that, we will first have to get rid of the Germans in the semi-finals. And it won’t be an easy task. The Frauen-Nationalmannschaft’s pedigree speaks for itself: eight continental titles, including six in a row between 1995 and 2013. If they were mistreated by the refreshing Austrian selection during the quarter, the Germans with their usual realism made the difference (2-0).
Germany are the only team in the tournament still in contention to have not conceded a goal since the start of the final phase. Freshness could also be an important parameter. The partners of Alexandra Popp played their quarter two days before that of the French, and therefore benefit from forty-eight hours of rest in addition, and thirty minutes less in the legs.
But the French team can already leave Rotherham, where they played their first four games, with the feeling of accomplishment. Now head south to Milton Keynes on July 27 for a place in the Euro final.