Impetus’ Jean-Pierre Thiesset reviews France’s matches against Portugal and Austria that kicked off their UEFA Nations League campaign (27/9/23)
Above: France’s Selma Bacha scores from 25 metres out against Portugal. Photo: Tim Guigon, FFF.
France 2-0 Portugal
France opened their inaugural UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign with a home game against Portugal in Valenciennes on 22nd September.
As expected, Hervé Renard, France’s head coach, continued to look for his best team and made some changes compared to his last World Cup lineup. Oriane Jean-François and Sandy Toletti were starters, but the big surprise was Constance Picaud of Paris Saint-Germain, who replaced Pauline Peyraud-Magnin as goalkeeper. Amandine Henry and Griedge Mbock were back in the squad and respectively played thirty minutes and five minutes.
Portugal applied pressure during the whole game, preventing the home side from settling, especially during the first thirty minutes. The visitors demonstrated that their strengths showed in the World Cup, almost eliminating the USA, are still there and that they are continuing to progress.
Patricia Morais, Portugal goalkeeper, made great saves from Jean-François (9’), Toletti (39’), Sakina Karchaoui (63’), and Grace Geyoro (72’) and this kept France from adding to their goal tally. The moment of the match was the superb shot from Selma Bacha on eighty-nine minutes as she scored from twenty-five meters out.
Teams: FRANCE (4-3-3): Picaud, Karchaoui, Renard, De Almeida, Perisset, Geyoro, Jean-François, Toletti, Bacha, Le Sommer, Diani. Substitutes: Henry, Matéo, Le Garrec, Mbock, Becho.
Scorers: Geyoro (27’), Bacha (89’).
PORTUGAL (4-3-1-2): Sousa, Amado, Costa, Diana Gomes, Borges, Norton, Dolores Silva, Tatiana Pinto, Nazareth, Encarmação, Diana Silva. Substitutes: Alves, Dias, Jacinto, Fatima Pinto, Capeta.
Attendance: 18,377.
Austria 0-1 France
France travelled to Vienna three days later and Hervé Renard, France’s head coach, made a few more changes with Amandine Henry and Clara Matéo, subs in the previous game coming in as starters.
Renard kept Constance Picaud as goalkeeper confirming that she is now the number one ahead of Peyraud-Magnin. The French boss has said that he has more confidence in Picaud’s footplay.
France scored quickly with a header from Wendie Renard following Selma Bacha’s free-kick from thirty meters in the fifth minute. Manuela Zinsberger, Austria ‘keeper’s error was key in this goal.
The visitors dominated early but had a worry on thirty-one minutes when Renard picked up a calf injury but, thankfully, she came back on after treatment. After a good first half, France had more difficulties imposing their game in the second as Austria’s players were able to exert more pressure.
Picaud saved with a header after Eugénie Le Sommer put her own goalkeeper under pressure. Despite having more possession in the second period, Austria were unable to trouble France apart from some set-piece play.
Teams: AUSTRIA (4-1-4-1): Zinsberger, Aschauer, Degen, Schiechtl, Naschenweng, Georgieva, Feiersinger, Puntigam, Zadrazil, Dunst, Pinther. Substitutes: Campbell, Purtscheller, Kirchberger, Höbinger, Schasching.
FRANCE (4-3-3): Picaud, Karchaoui, Renard, De Almeida, Perisset, Jean-François, Henry, Matéo, Bacha, Le Sommer, Diani. Substitutes: Mbock, Le Garrec, Becho, Toletti, Asseyi.
Scorers: Renard (5’).
Attendance: approx 10,000.
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