2023-08-02 14:29:52
Les Bleues were not obliged to win against Panama this Wednesday afternoon to validate their ticket for the round of 16 of the World Cup. But as long as it takes, they have decided to combine business with pleasure. Facing the weakest team in group F, Hervé Renard’s players put on a show by winning 6-3 thanks, in particular, to a hat-trick from the former Parisian Kadidiatou Diani. Place now in the knockout matches, with a question mark that remains: which of Germany or Colombia, who play Thursday, will stand between the French and a qualification in the quarters? Note that Les Bleues have reached the elimination phase for the fourth time in a row.
What you must remember
It’s a game that started with a flood of tears. Those of Marta Cox, first visibly very moved when the Panamanian anthem resounded in the sky of Sydney, then drunk with joy when her free kick from thirty meters went to knock out the skylight of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin from the first seconds of the game (1-0, 2nd). A big blow on the helmet for the Blues, picked cold and virtually eliminated for a few minutes, the time to turn around. What they did without dragging too much.
#FIFAWWC | ????????⚡???????? MARTA COX’S EXCEPTIONAL FREE KICK FOR PANAMA!
☄ The captain scores the 1st goal in the history of the Canaleras in the World Cup on this missile, she is in tears! The Blue ones are already carried out!
???? The live game: pic.twitter.com/4fVfp8onWN
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 2, 2023
Dominating despite the unfavorable score, Hervé Renard’s players did not wait half an hour to score a goal. Then two. Then three. Then four. A header from Maëlle Lakrar, well helped on her head by the intervention of Deysiré Salazar to equalize (1-1, 21st), before unfolding thanks to a double from the inevitable Kadidiatou Diani, first with a good shot placed at close range (1-2, 28th) then, less than 10 minutes later, on penalty (1-3, 37th). His first two World Cup goals.
The difference in level between the two teams is of the order of the abyss: more technically gifted, more physical, the Blue ones walk around, hold the ball and widen the gap in additional time of the first act, on a cross from Le Garrec who rebounded in the area, then in the skylight, without any Panamanian intervening (1-4, 45th + 5).
The second act started as well for Les Bleues as the first had started well for Panama. A new hand in the area after returning from the locker room offered the hat-trick ball to Kadi Diani, who did not shake at 11m (1-5, 52nd). As was obviously the theme of the match, the Panamanians were also entitled to their attempt at the penalty spot on a foul by De Almeida in the box. Attempt transformed… twice by Pinzon (2-5, 64th), who had simply not waited for the referee’s whistle before starting the first time.
The Panamanians who will have the merit of coming out of the competition with their heads held high. After containing several Blue waves, they even added a third goal to their tally. Again, a free kick from Cox at the start, taken from the head by Cedeno who finished twice, after touching the bar (3-5, 87th). After the endless additional time of 13 minutes, the Blues still put the icing on the cake thanks to a very nice goal from the young Vicki Becho (3-6, 90th + 10). Nine goals, spectacle and a qualification: game, set and match for Les Bleues!
Player: Marta Cox
The number 10 of the Canaleras, most capped player and top scorer of this inexperienced selection, became the first to find the net for her country in the World Cup. And how: his free kick will certainly remain as one of the most beautiful goals of this World Cup. It was not until the third pool match of this first Panamanian participation in the World Cup that the nets trembled in their favour, but the wait was worth it to see the explosion of joy of a whole group, drunk with happiness around of his star player to celebrate her goal, and of all the supporters present in the stands. Her address on a set piece will also have hurt the Blues, since it is from her that the 3rd Panamanian goal also came at the end of the match. The story is all the more beautiful as Marta Cox was affected, during the qualifications for this World Cup, by the death of her mother.
The number: 72
Like the possession percentage of the Blues, who dropped three goals but very few balls to the Panamanians in this match.
The sentence: “We could have made this match easier”
Hervé Renard, at the microphone of France 2 after the match: “A lot of things displeased me in the second half but we are going to hide them. We also remember that Jamaica eliminates Brazil, as what it was a difficult group. Tonight was easier, but we could have made this game easier. When we put efficiency, when we played simple it was, but when we started to do anything, we immediately had difficulties. You have to respect football. This first round is done, we turn the page and we enter the real matches, in the real competition. It’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to prepare well for a match that’s not going to be easy. »
Panama-France (1-4) 3-6
Buts. Panama: Cox (2nd), Pinzon (64th, sp) and L. Cedeno (87th) for Panama. France: Lakrar (21st), Diani (28th, 37th, 52nd), Le Garrec (45th + 5), Becho (90 + 10).
Panama: Bailey – Jaen, Natis (Espinosa, 62nd), Pinzon, Baltrip-Reyes – Salazar (L. Cedeno, 46th), E. Cedeno (Hernandez, 58th), Tanner (Mills, 81st), Montenegro (Gonzalez, 58th). , Fifth – Cox. Entr. : Ignatius Quintana
France: Peyraud-Magnin – Cascarino, De Almeida, Lakrar, Perisset – Becho, Geyoro (Majri, 46e), Le Garrec, Bacha (Asseyi, 46e) – Diani (Fazer, 60e), Mateo. Entry : Hervé Renard
#Les #Bleues #unfold #Diani #offers #hattrick #summary #PanamaFrance