The honeymoon continues. The French team of Hervé Renard won a first benchmark success three months from the Women’s World Cup by dominating the Canadian Olympic champions (2-1) on Tuesday at Le Mans, a shock rich in lessons for the new coach.
The dream beginnings? After ten days in office, the former boss of Saudi Arabia not only restored enthusiasm to a selection in crisis, he observed many players at work, but above all he won two important successes. in a friendly, after the spectacular victory against Colombia on Friday in Clermont-Ferrand (5-2).
The 14,200 spectators at the Marie-Marvingt stadium also attended a much more successful meeting on Tuesday than the Auvergne public on Friday, despite the rainy weather: displaying this mastery against one of the candidate nations for the world title this summer in Australia and New Zealand (July 20-August 20) holds promise.
Geyoro and Le Garrec goalscorers
The coach kept repeating this week that “the competition has (was) another flavor” and that the Blues were in preparation… Did he want to secure his back in the event of a misstep? In any case, his players did not take this shock lightly, in the wake of Grace Geyoro, header scorer (51st), and Léa Le Garrec, intractable to take advantage of a gross error in raising goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan (64th), with a delicious control-lob sequence
The celebration of the middle of Fleury, deprived of the Blue for five and a half years under the mandate of Corinne Deacon – ex-coach landed on March 9 -, alone sums up a lot of things.
All the staff members, substitutes and starters formed a joyful circle of euphoria and smiles on the sidelines. A scene unimaginable a few weeks ago. The Garrec could not hold back a few tears at the end of the meeting.
Picaud’s error
Faced with Canadians renowned for their defensive solidity – but deprived of several injured executives – the click came, like Friday, from two essentials. The lively Delphine Cascarino, untenable on her right side, served Grace Geyoro perfectly, placed in the right place. The two players, who were already scorers against the Colombians when they entered the game at half-time, clearly confirmed that their place would be impregnable in the starting lineup.
The only black point of the meeting was this goal conceded in the 71st minute on a huge error by goalkeeper Constance Picaud (2nd selection), surprise holder in place of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, the N.1 for several years. Striker Jordyn Huitema did not miss this chance to return the Parisian to her rank of understudy…
Executives to reintegrate
In his notebook, Hervé Renard undoubtedly has many observations to go over for the next few weeks. The analysis will be crucial, because his next list to be unveiled will simply be that of the World Cup, at the beginning of June, even if he should deliver an expanded first selection.
In the positive column, the 54-year-old coach will be able to highlight the winning return of Eugénie Le Sommer, who touched the bar on Tuesday (49th) after her double on Friday. He will also be able to be satisfied with a successful match from his captain Wendie Renard, whom he himself was waiting for “at the turn” after the sling she led against Deacon. The Lyonnaise, overwhelmed on Friday, has completely regained her authority in defense. She could even have scored, without a feat from Sheridan (62nd).
Hervé Renard does not forget either that he has absentees to reinstate, if they recover. This is the case of Amandine Henry, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, three hopeful executives for the World Cup. Katoto was also in the stands at Le Mans, she must have appreciated.