Les Bleues get 2023 campaign on track as Herve Renard masterminds victory in Brisbane. Tom Smithies reports
The French revolution of Herve Renard is up and running, and Les Bleues are suddenly as serious contenders to win the World Cup as any.
Renard’s France turbocharged their World Cup campaign with a glorious triumph over Brazil, the 2-1 victory secured by goals to Eugenie Le Sommer and Wendie Renard – two players exiled under the reign of Herve Renard’s little-lamented predecessor, Corinne Diacre, but restored under the new regime with spectacular results.
If this victory doesn’t exactly apply the guillotine to Brazil’s own World Cup ambitions, it was still the most powerful statement of intent.
On a night where emotions ran high right to the final whistle, France’s collection of individual talents produced a magnificent team performance. Brazil were enthralling to watch at times too, but as cries of “Allez Les Bleues” rang out from the French pockets of support, Renard’s team found a way to go indeed.
The result turns Group F on its head, with France now favourites to win it with just a less-than-alarming tie with Panama to come; Brazil, meanwhile, will have to be careful to make absolutely sure they finish in the top two.
If not the game of the World Cup this was as good as any other – an epic contest, breathless and bruising for those taking part, brilliant for the rest of us.
France had stormed out of the gates with a fury, hardly looking like a team whose last two games had brought defeat to Australia and – more damagingly – a draw with Jamaica in their opening World Cup game.
Herve Renard seemed to have wound his troops up to career like derviches around the pitch, determined to dictate the pace of the game to Brazil. Kenza Dali scythed in on Luana to earn a very early yellow card; more productively, Eugenie Le Sommer met Dali’s cross with a flicked header that Leticia sprawled to push away.
Brazil’s goalkeeper was working overtime, sprinting from her line to save from Sandi Toletti – the offside flag went up eventually but it was still an inspired save, as Brazil tried to stem the tide of Les Blues. Eventually, the South American rearguard was breached; Le Sommer hovered in the box as Sakina Karchaoui’s deep cross was headed back across goal by Kadidiatou Diani, and this time the French No 9 buried her header out of Leticia’s reach.
The lead was deserved, but Brazil to their credit responded with firepower of their own. Debinha cut in from the right and touched the ball inside for Adriana, suddenly all alone in front of goal; the winger seemed determined to complete the perfect finish, but incredibly steered the ball high and wide.
To spurn such a chance in a game of such high stakes could have shaken anyone; Adriana responded like a woman possessed, seeking out the ball and running at and through the French. One slaloming run could only be halted by a cynical lunge from Toletti to earn another caution.
The action was incessant, halftime just replenishing the energy levels. Brazil began to sweep forward like the waves of an incoming tide and drew level just before the hour. Ary Borges, scorer of a hattrick against Panama in Brazil’s opening game, danced down the wing and passed inside to Kerolin; though the latter’s attempted shot was half blocked, it spun perfectly into the path of Debinha whose control was instant and whose deft, almost nudged finish into the corner was sublime.
The roar of almost 50,000 fans in Brisbane Stadium was cacophonous, the atmosphere crackling as Brazil prepared to drive home the advantage. In the heat of the battle, though, France were cool – keeping possession in a bid to slow the tempo of the game from a Samba beat to something more to their liking.
Le Sommer was withdrawn and replaced by Vicki Becho, and the move prompted a fusillade of French attacks; finally, with seven minutes remaining, Bacha swung over a deep corner and Wendie Renard stole in at the back post to thump a header into the turf, over Leticia and in.
Herve Renard’s temper boiled over as the game went into injury time and Brazil won a freekick, prompting the Frenchman into a furious exchange with Brazil boss Pia Sundhage – only the final whistle, a few seconds later, halted it as he jumped into an embrace with his coaches.