Les Bleues made a successful start against a weak team from Finland (5-0) on Wednesday February 16 during the Tournoi de France, the squad review benefiting in particular Clara Matéo and Kheira Hamraoui, who came into play almost three years later. his last appearance.
This easy success allows the defending champions to take control of the friendly competition before their second meeting, Saturday in Caen against Brazil which, earlier, had hooked the Dutch European champions (1-1).
Coach Corinne Deacon initially said there would be no “no second team” at kick-off, before taking everyone on the wrong foot, by aligning second goalkeeper Solène Durand on Wednesday evening, by relaunching Marion Torrent on the right of the defense and by giving playing time to the few capped Clara Matéo and Melvine Malard.
The bet paid off against a weak Finland, 28and nation in the FIFA rankings, whose sad evening began with a hiccup with the wrong anthem played at the Océane stadium – as a sign.
Mateo shines
The Paris FC striker, Clara Matéo, distinguished herself by a lively part, with percussion, speed and precious set pieces. At 24, the native of Nantes improved her seventh selection by delivering two decisive corners for the heads of Melvine Malard (2-0, 16and) and Wendie Renard (3-0, 34and), also goalscorer at 89and.
Matéo could even have dreamed even bigger without a recalcitrant post (73and) after a shot triggered after a slalom in the opposing defence. Five months before the Euro, scheduled for July in England, she gave substance to the ambitions displayed at the beginning of the week with Agence France-Presse (AFP), saying she wanted to take advantage of her second internship in a row to “Gain even more experience and be able to come back to the next selection”.
From the height of his 21 years, Malard also took advantage of the hand extended by the coach to shoot down his cards from the right wing of the attack. Lively and decisive, she scored her third goal in nine selections. Same age and same talent for Sandy Baltimore who, from the opposite corridor on the left, caused many torments to his vis-à-vis. A minute after a nice recovery above (11and), the Paris SG winger provoked a goal against Anna Westerlund’s side (1-0, 12and). She is also the one who takes the winning corner for Renard’s last goal.
The return of Hamraoui, 3 years later
Beyond the final result, the evening was marked by the return to the tricolor jersey of Kheira Hamraoui, a major event almost three years after her previous selection, and more than three months after the assault she suffered. Beaten with an iron bar by two masked men in Boulogne on November 4, 2021, she has still not been able to shed light on this case.
The 3,600 spectators listed in Le Havre did not react when he entered the game, on the 62and minute, but Deacon and Charlotte Bilbault, whom she replaced, were warmer, with smiles and hugs. The former Barcelonan has long awaited her 37and selection and this counts all the more as it could bring it closer to a place in the Euro, which would have been completely unimaginable a few months ago, and even more so a few days ago.
Forfeited on injury in October, after a first surprise recall, Hamraoui (32) had never entered the plans of Deacon, who had only offered him a handful of seconds in April 2019 in a friendly against Japan (3- 1). Neither in those of Olivier Echouafni, his predecessor (two selections in 2016). His entry into play, sober and effective, makes you want to see more against a tougher opposition.
” We had a serious match, we started it well, we scored some nice goals, well done. (…) Now, the truth of one evening is not that of the next day, we will remain humble “, said Corinne Deacon after the match. France will meet Brazil on Saturday February 19 and the Netherlands on Tuesday February 22.