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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Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Certainly not their best game, with a few players lost in changed positions, poor ball control and France dead-set on fire. It could've been a couple more against them. Indeed France played much like we've come to expect the Matildas to play. But nothing lost, recall when the Kiwis played a similar fast press against our girls a few years back and made them look ordinary only for our girls to recover in coming games. Great to see the youngsters get some game time.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time 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. A younger and at times untried Australian outfit was clearly working on structure and playing style rather than victory, but they just could not keep up with a French team on fire from the get-go. France played with an attack, press, pressure and precision that a lesser opponent would have found themselves struggling to combat. Amel Majri was a perpetual threat for the French on the left hand side, her run and carry something that Australia did not appear to have an answer for. Majri would set up chance after chance, before finally setting up the opener. 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. Wasted opportunities you felt might haunt the home side. 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 settled the hosts and ultimately set them on their way. Le Sommer was at it again as the match was about to enter it's final stages, as Australia lost possession coming out of defence, only for the French woman to follow up her opener with a world class long range strike in the 90th minute to seal the win. For Australia, Lisa De Vanna was her usual hard working self, she just didn't have the support crew to make anything meaningful for the visitors. A late chance to Mary Fowler forcing a one on one save from the French keeper, but that was the extent of the Australian threat. The final tally of 20 shots to 4 in favour of France told a very clear story. Australia will take many valuable lessons about performing under pressure in a hostile environment for next year’s World Cup. With the likes of Kerr, Van Egmond and Kennedy to come back into the side, Australia will still feel confident going into next year's World Cup, and the experience for a lot of the Matilda players will be invaluable. As for tonight, to the French victors go the spoils, in a thoroughly enjoyable contest. Final score France - 2 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time And that is full time. France take the victory, Australia with the lessons learned. Match report to come. France - 2 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
94' - France are coming in, oh, that cross is overcooked. Australia just haven't fired tonight. Not sure if they haven't been allowed to, or they just haven't been up to the challenge here. France - 2 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
91' - 4 minutes of stoppage time. Well, France couldn't complete the easy chances, they needed to test themselves more. Can Australia grab a consolation goal here, and make my prediction perfect? France - 2 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
Goal 90' - Australia just tapered off a bit here. France with a foul, but Australia just can't make it work, and France steal possession., WHAT A GOAL FROM LE SOMMER! She runs in, shoots, and there's nothing the keeper can do about that one! It's out of Arnold's reach and in the back of the net! What a world class stunning finish! France - 2 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
87' - Australia with some possession here, but no territory. France just closing out this game now. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
84' - Australia have lifted here, visibly. They are in the mood to pinch a draw here. Australia with a goal kick. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
83' - Fowler is in here! Bouhaddi with the save! Fowler is through, she's one on one, and the keeper comes out and makes the save. French keeper hasn't had to do much, but she's done well there! There's a scramble from the corner - French hanging on here. Here comes Australia! France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
82' - Apparently Australia are allowed more subs. Sayer coming on for a tired Tameka Butt. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
80' - Bussaglia with a follow up from a Australia headed clearance, but she skies her chance and it floats over the cross bar. Goal kick Australia. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
79' - France want to close this out here. The wave starts around the stands. France with possession on the right, drop back, and switch to the left. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
78' - Right, Australia with some fresh lets and some possession ... nope, they've given the ball to France. But they take it back again, and there's a bit of grunt in the middle. Australia draw the foul. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
75' - Dali coming on for France, and it's Thiney coming off for the French. Another strong showing, but she will wonder how the French aren't more ahead. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
74' - Foord has come off too, so that completes Australia's subs. Gielnik comes on in her place. Shots are 15 to 2 in France's favour. That really sums up the complete domination by the French. But here we are, just the goal the difference. Anything can happen. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
73' - Lisa De Vanna comes off, good game. She's replaced by Fowler, for cap number 2. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
72' - Australian player down with cramp, and they return the ball to France from the throw in. You just sense that Australia have something brewing here. All those missed chances by France have to be playing on their mind just a little bit. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
71' - France substitution. Laurent comes on for Diani, who has had a solid game. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
69' - France have slowed it down a bit, so credit to Australia for coming back a bit with some fight. France lose possession, Australia break through De Vanna and Carpenter. FOORD CAN'T CONNECT IN THE AREA! What a ball from Carpenter. France - 1 Australia - 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
68' - Australia are through! Simon opens up the French defence, but they botch it, and France scramble back to clear the danger. Australia were through there, just the keeper to beat, but the French scramble was intense. France - 1 Australia - 0