The joy wasn’t really overwhelming in Adelaide, the winners showed a satisfied smile, that had to do it. This football game had just ended too clearly, France’s victory against Morocco in the final round of 16 of this World Cup was too much to be expected. And the connection to the opponent is too close.
Many players and supervisors in blue and red know each other, a total of nine participants could have played for both nations because of their roots. Six Moroccans are under contract in France. When Morocco’s coach Reynald Pedros arrived at France’s defense chief Wendie Renard after the 4-0 win, packed in a thick winter jacket, the two hugged and flirted, twice winning the Champions League with Olympique Lyon. In general, there were few stoic high fives, France coach Hervé Renard, on the other hand, used to train Morocco’s men. And somehow even the losers could live with the result.
“The fact that we were kicked out shouldn’t spoil our great run,” said Pedros: “Today we missed a few points, but we still came far. I’m very proud, that was historic.” That evening, many had expected that France’s opponent would be called Germany. But in the third group game, Morocco won 1-0 against group winners Colombia, while the Germans only drew with South Korea. This one goal meant progress for Morocco and the end and worst result at a World Cup or European Championship for the Germans.
Morocco’s entry into the round of 16 shows that the country has recently invested heavily in football
The Moroccans tried hard to create the next sensation, but in front of a crowd of 13,557 in the tournament’s smallest stadium, they must have realized early on that this wasn’t going to work. After 15 minutes, the French team combined well on the left, Sakina Karchaoui crossed on goal, Kadidiatou Diani callously steered the ball in. Five minutes later, Diani provided the assist for Kenza Dali, who thundered in the ball from 15 yards with a stop at the left post to make it 2-0.
Making it to the round of 16 was the minimum for France. It was an achievement for Morocco. In December 2022, Morocco became the first African country to reach the men’s World Cup semifinals (also against France). Now the women were the first to make it to the knockout stages of their World Cup debut. As surprising as this result seemed and as unexpected as it came – the way there was planned. In 2009, King Mohammed VI founded a football academy, he is considered a great football promoter who also supports women. They should enjoy the same conditions as men.
When it became clear that the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations would take place in his country, more was invested and the league was professionalised. The African Champions League was won by the Moroccan club AS FAR, and the Moroccans reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. The fact that Reynald Pedros took over the team as coach at the end of 2020 also helped with development. The former French international not only won the premier class twice as a coach with Lyon, he was also honored as world coach in 2018. “I’m so proud of the team. We’re among the top 16 teams in the world,” he said before the game. “Three years ago we were still building a team.”
With Hervé Renard on the sidelines, the atmosphere in the France national team seems less tense.
(Photo: Franck Fife/AFP)
It was finally clear in the 22nd minute that the gap in performance to a squad peppered with international veterans could not be closed in such a short time: Diani made the assist again, after a long ball she won a duel and served Eugénie Le Sommer optimally, France’s record goalscorer at World Cup finals scored diagonally in the bottom left. That was the decision at the latest – and the 4-0 in the 70th minute by Le Sommer, who only had to nod off at the far post, was a pure bonus.
A player revolt was followed by the dismissal of the coach
The 34-year-old’s brace that saw France meet hosts Australia in Saturday’s quarter-finals in Brisbane was a testament to the team’s transformation in recent months. Captain Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto retired from the national team in February. They demanded changes and, with their move, initiated a revolt against Corinne Diacre. With her they had reached the semi-finals at the European Championships, but this success could only partially cover up all the cracks. The controversial coach had to leave in March – and France was looking for a new head coach four and a half months before the World Cup.
It took over: Hervé Renard, who threw up the well-paid contract with Saudi Arabia’s men until 2027 and followed the call of his homeland. With him, players like Le Sommer who had been retired under Diacre also returned. You, with more than 180 appearances, and Renard, with more than 140 games, have the most experience in the squad Les Bleues with. And at least to the outside, it seems as if the atmosphere is no longer characterized by tension, but by harmony and lightness.
Renard’s style of play is anything but gentle, he wants his teams to be aggressive and confident – and sees no reason for the end of the World Cup trip, especially in the great task of playing against an entire country. “We have the ability to do it,” said the 54-year-old on Tuesday evening. “But of course you always want more.” For example, topping his coup at the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar: Renard led the Saudi Arabian team in Qatar to a sensational 2-1 win against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who later won the title.