On Saturday August 12, France, led by new coach Hervé Renard, faces Australia, co-organizer of the competition, in the quarter-finals. A real challenge against Australians carried by their public in Brisbane.
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Four years after the quarter-final lost against the United States at home, Les Bleues are one victory away from their initial objective, the last four. A victory would qualify them for their second semi-final after 2011.
” This is one of the most important games in our history. Compared to our future, we are at a turning point “, recognizes striker Eugénie Le Sommer, who will not have many opportunities, at 34, to bring a medal to her country. Since 2009, the France team has played every quarter of the major competitions in which it has qualified. But his record is mixed, with six eliminations and only three qualifications for the semi-finals, including that of the 2011 World Cup, and during the last Euro in England.
Only one shock for France against Brazil since the start of the competition
Hervé Renard’s players will have to face an Australian team in form, but also pushed by more than 50,000 supporters. Surprised by Nigeria in the second pool match (2-3), the Australians ensured their qualification by largely beating the Canadians (4-0), yet Olympic champions in title. In the round of 16, they logically dismissed Denmark 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals for the fourth time in their history. The defense of the Blue will have to resist the counter-offensives of the Australians, impressive against the Danes.
” The objectives have been clear since April. We know how crucial the match against Australia is to succeed in this challenge. We’re happy to be here to take it up “Explained the tricolor coach at a press conference, determined to pass this milestone of the quarters, so difficult to break, and to bring down the “Matildas” at home. Before this meeting, the Blues had a fairly simple course. There was only one clash, against Brazil in the group stage (2-1) on July 29. Since this benchmark match against the Seleção, the Habs have come up against two very weak opponents, Panama (6-3), with a hat-trick from striker Kadidiatou Diani, then Morocco (4-0).
A qualification for the semi-finals would ensure Hervé Renard a positive balance, only four months after his arrival at the head of the selection, replacing Corinne Deacon. ” We’ve been part of the best teams in the world for a long time, and we still haven’t won anything, still no medal. We also want to mark this history of women’s football, we want it to live up to our ambitions, to bring something back to our country, we want to do great things “says Eugénie Le Sommer.