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Eugenie Le Sommer has scored a cracking second half double to lead the French national team to a 2-nil win over an out of sorts Australia.
France had all the attack, chances and possession in the match, but found themselves curiously on even terms at half-time, an abundance of missed chances by the home side left out on the park.
Australia made some changes and tried to get in the game, but it just wasn’t their night, as an early second half finish from Le Sommer was followed up by a world class long range strike in the 90th minute to seal the win.
Australia will take many valuable lessons about performing under pressure in a hostile environment for next year’s World Cup.
As for tonight, to the French victors go the spoils, in a thoroughly enjoyable contest.
Final score
France – 2
Australia – 0
With the World Cup creeping up slowly, every match is now vital in preparation, as France play host to the Matildas at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne. Join The Roar for live coverage from 5am (AEST).
The Matildas are going with a combination of youth with a dash of experience.
The key for this game in France is the absence of Sam Kerr, who is fresh off her announcement as (and rightly so) being the W-League’s first marquee player.
How the Matildas perform without their talisman will have not only a big bearing on this game, but on certain players’ hopes of playing in a World Cup next year.
Of course, leading the ladies from the front is Lisa De Vanna, and it says a lot about the quality of Australian women’s football that you can comfortably leave out a player like Kerr, in the knowledge that you lose very little having De Vanna there to still lead this team.
The Matildas should hold no fears with this game. After all, they are not ranked sixth in the world for nothing.
Which means that France mustn’t be ranked fourth in the world for nothing.
The French will be feeling the spirit of the men’s team over the next few months, not just with their Russian victory in mind, but all the way back to France 1998, when football held tightly to the nation’s attention.
If the French women can even tap into just a small amount of that energy and enthusiasm, they will be hoping that when they host the World Cup next year, they too can go all the way, and light up the Champs Elysee.
All the more reason why France will be hoping to stamp their authority on another rival with a strong first up performance here.
Just a friendly? I think not. There’s more riding on this than friendliness.
Prediction
France to be too strong at home. That is certainly not to discount the Matildas, but rather compliment the French in that as a top four nation, with a full compliment of players, they should be able to account for a relatively young Australian team. But the contest promises to be tight and thrilling just the same.
France 2-1.
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