Every day throughout the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, 20 minutes provides an update on the highlights of the competition. This Thursday, we are on the eve of the first quarter-finals of the event, namely Spain – Netherlands (3 hours) and Japan – Sweden (9:30). Even if there is no match, we have things to tell you: Selma Bacha thus reveals her individual ambitions for the future and the Dutch evoke the “big mouth” of the Americans, eliminated in the round of 16 of this Global. We will also be interested in Sam Kerr, the star of the Australian selection, who has not yet been able to highlight himself in the competition, before facing the Blues on Saturday (9 a.m.).
Selma Bacha dreams of the World Cup… and the Ballon d’Or
We no longer present the number 13 of the France team, with obvious technical and center qualities. The 22-year-old left-hander represents both the present and the future of Les Bleues, already quarter-finalists in Australia. But the Lyonnaise will not be satisfied with a good career. In an interview published this Thursday by AFP (but carried out in July), Selma Bacha discusses her collective and individual objectives. Spoiler alert, they are high.
“Collectively, to win the World Cup, but there are many stages before all that, she slipped before the start of the competition. And individually, to be among the best players in the world. Despite my young age, I have a lot of goals… The Ballon d’Or one day, remember that (laughs)! “. We’re holding back, Selma. We accept.
“Americans had big mouths”
We do not hide his satisfaction to see the United States out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup on the side of the Netherlands. Not that the Oranje especially feared the defending champions, whom they had beaten in the group stage. But the Dutch had a little trouble with American arrogance.
Striker Lineth Beerensteyn was happy to dismantle the United States in person, this Thursday in the middle of a press conference: “When I learned that they had come out, I just thought “Yes ! Bye”. Since the start of the tournament, they already had big mouths. They were already talking about the final. I hope they will learn lessons”. Donald Trump likes that.
A “scary” Sam Kerr for the Blues?
Is the number one danger on the Australian side called Sam Kerr, for the clash against France on Saturday (9 a.m.)? Expected as the ultimate star of HIS World Cup at home, the Chelsea striker is for the moment necessarily frustrated, since she was injured in the calf at the start of the competition. She finally had her first minutes of play at the end of the round of 16 against Denmark (2-0). This caused quite a racket in the Sydney Olympic Stadium, where there were 75,000 supporters. It seems tempting for the Matildas to start Sam Kerr as a starter on Saturday, given how much of a threat she poses to opposing defenses. “It’s a great relief to be back, announces the interested party. I thought I was a little rusty, but no, I feel great. »
Until the end, Hervé Renard therefore risks not knowing whether Sam Kerr will be immediately in the area of Wendie Renard and Maëlle Lakrar or not. “His return is a huge boost for us,” said Australian striker Caitlin Foord. For the other teams, it’s scarier that she’s back and playing again. Because at 29, Sam Kerr has 63 goals in 122 caps and 29 goals in 38 games this season with Chelsea. “Sam is the best striker in the world,” insists teammate Emily van Egmond. To which the side of the Bleues… and the Blues Eve Périsset replied with humor: “Who is Sam Kerr? No, she’s a player who makes very good deep calls, it’s a treat to play with her for that. We know the qualities she has in the box. He doesn’t need 10,000 chances to score a goal. It wouldn’t be so bad if she wasn’t ready to start on Saturday after all, would it?