The D1 Arkema match which was being played at the Léo-Lagrange stadium in Poissy was suspended in the second half with the scores level at 0-0. Two firecrackers were launched in the first half but the referee did not intervene with proceedings until several were launched during the second half. 

It was confirmed after 40 minutes of both teams waiting that the match would not resume on Saturday evening. The fireworks, fired from the surrounding buildings, fell right in the middle of a stand filled with families, including children, and also reached a mounted structure on which the commentators and cameramen of the match were located. No one is thought to have been injured. The fate of the match will be decided at the next commission of the FFF. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Prêcheur and PSG have reportedly mutually agreed to end their collaboration, although Division 1’s 2023-24 season had barely begun and despite being on the verge of facing serial league champions Olympique Lyonnais this Sunday night at the Parc des Princes. Both outlets understand that assistant coach Jocelyn Prêcheur will follow in the footsteps of his father and replace him as PSG Women’s manager.

Le Parisien adds that PSG Women’s U19 manager Paulo César will link up with Jocelyn Précheur’s staff as an assistant coach. Last season, Gérard Prêcheur was not adamant he wanted to carry on as PSG manager, mentioning the need for the Division 1 side to bring guarantees in order to build a great club. “Being competitive is not enough. I want to finish my career with a desire to win“, Prêcheur said.

Le Parisien understands that France international Kadidiatou Diani’s departure to arch-rivals Lyon played a part in Prêcheur’s decision to leave. Prêcheur also reportedly had numerous disagreements with PSG Women’s Sporting Director Angelo Castellazzi and Deputy Sporting Director Sabrina Delannoy.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

The coach in question, Yohan Desbos, has since been imprisoned for six months. Sahlane’s claim has been heard in a court in Lyon this week. The former footballer arrived in Lyon from Germany before filing the complaint of sexual assault a few days later. She was later fired via a phone call.

Lyon argue that the decision was made based on the “unfavourable sporting evaluations” of Lina Salhane as a player and evidence that two players involved in the affair continued at the club after it occurred. The ex-player said that the dismissal “damaged her dreams” of becoming a professional footballer. The final decision in the case will be made on the 22nd of November. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Diani has reported two situations that allegedly happened in August 2021. Ollé-Nicolle reportedly touched several of PSG Women players’ buttocks with a miniature baseball bat during a pre-season tour in the United States. According to Diani, it was not the first inappropriate action from the PSG head coach. At half-time of a pre-season’s friendly game, Ollé-Nicolle reportedly touched Diani’s backside with his hand.

Le Parisien understands that similar situations marred the 2021-2022 season of the PSG Women’s team. A particular player, minor at the time, was upset at being regularly targeted by “inappropriate” words and gestures from Ollé-Nicolle. A judicial investigation was opened against an unnamed party on May 2022 for “sexual assault by a person in authority” thanks to elements revealed by the investigation regarding Kheira Hamraoui’s assault. Ollé-Nicolle was heard only as a witness and the internal investigation carried out by PSG did not provide results nor substantial evidence.

However, Ollé-Nicolle left PSG in August 2022 by mutual agreement, a year before the end of his contract. The head coach’s lawyer told Le Parisien that his client “has neither been heard nor summoned to explain the facts mentioned in this complaint.” He adds that Ollé-Nicolle could in turn file a complaint for slanderous denunciation.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

After an adventurous start, Les Bleues gradually suffered from the Matildas’ sustained pressure and ability in transitional plays, forcing France into losing too many easy balls in their own third of the pitch. Fortunately, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin and captain Wendie Renard kept the boat afloat. Hervé Renard’s side sometimes looked overwhelmed by the occasion. France’s rare goalscoring opportunities in the first half fell to centre-back Maëlle Lakrar. The centre-back missed a sitter yards from goal and Aussie goalie Mackenzie Arnold then deflected her shot from a corner.

At the other side of the pitch, Australia went close to make France pay for their many errors. A misunderstanding between Sakina Karchaoui and Peyraud-Magnin fell to Mary Fowler, whose goalbound shot was denied by a tremendous goal line clearance from Elisa Da Almeida. France could feel lucky to return to their dressing room on par with Australia, although they were due a hair dryer of a half-time team talk from Renard.

Australia started the second half as they ended the first one – dominating an error-strewn France. The Matildas could rightly feel the game was theirs for the taking and introduced talismanic striker Sam Kerr before the hour mark. France went into survival mode with Australia poking holes left and right in Les Bleues’ midfield. Peyraud-Magnin made amends for several blunders with a flurry of good saves.

France eventually found a way back with Australia loosening their grip on the encounter and struggling to create opportunities. Les Bleues weathered the storm and even threatened to pull off an almighty upset, but the game was to be decided in more than 90 minutes. France was given renewed energy thanks to the introduction of pacy winger Vicki Becho. Les Bleues even found the back of the Australian net from a corner with Alanna Kennedy heading goalwards, but it was ruled out due to a foul from Renard, on a different player. France could felt hard done but, to be fair, it should probably not have been a corner in the first place.

Les Bleues kept knocking with the inspiring Becho forcing Arnold to a great save and Australia seemingly content to wait for the dreaded penalty shootout. Renard took a leaf out of Louis Van Gaal’s book in replacing Peyraud-Magnin with 3rd choice keeper and reported penalty specialist Solène Durand minutes from time. In a breathless shootout,Vicki Becho’s failed attempt proved crucial with Cortnee Vine making no mistake from the spot. France are out.

Lineups:

Australia – Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley (X), Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Mackenzie Arnold (X), Katrina Gorry, Tameka Yallop, Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt (X), Cortnee Vine

France – Selma Bacha (X), Kadidiatou Diani, Wendie Renard, Eugénie Le Sommer, Eve Perisset (X), Grace Geyoro, Sakina Karchaoui, Maëlle Lakrar, Kenza Dali (X), Vicki Becho (X)

France player ratings

Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, 5

Élisa De Almeida, 7 – The right-back was the best French defender by a mile at Brisbane. Her attacking output was decent and she made little to no mistakes guarding her flank. Her goalline clearance in the first half gave France a reprieve.

Maëlle Lakrar, 5

Wendie Renard, 6

Sakina Karchaoui, 4

Sandie Toletti, 4

Grace Geyoro, 5

Kenza Dali, 3

Selma Bacha, 4

Kadidiatou Diani, 4

Eugénie Le Sommer, 4 – France’s all-time record goalscorer struggled to create opportunities. She was also expertly handled by Australia’s defence, mitigating her hold-up play 

Others

Vicki Becho, 5

Solène Durand, 7

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

The result was virtually wrapped up within the first 25 minutes of the game, as a flurry of goals in the space of 10 minutes put Hervé Renard’s team 3-0 up. The first, a header from close range by Kadidiatou Diani, before Kenza Dali swept home a second and Eugénie Le Sommer added another after a defensive mistake from the Atlas Lionesses.

Les Bleues then took their foot off the gas, with their spot in the last 8 guaranteed by then. They did add a fourth 20 minutes from time, as Le Sommer scored her double with a back-post header after some impressive work from substitute Vicki Becho on the right wing before sending in a cross. Next up for France, a quarter-final against the co-hosts Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

France player ratings:

Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, 6

Eve Perisset, 5

Wendie Renard, 6

Élisa De Almeida, 6

Sakina Karchaoui, 7 – Her link-up with Bacha down the left was France’s main attacking outlet throughout the game, as shown in her assist for the opener. Also shut down any potential Moroccan threat on her side of the defence.

Grace Geyoro, 5

Sandie Toletti, 6

Selma Bacha, 6

Kadidiatou Diani, 7 – Continued her impressive form after her hat-trick against Panama, and was involved in all three first-half goals – scoring the first and assisting the two others. Completed an impressive one-two with Dali for France’s second, and then pressured the Moroccan defender into a missed clearance to set up Le Sommer. 

Eugénie Le Sommer, 6 – Two close-range finishes for her 91st and 92nd France goals, but also some invaluable work as an outlet out wide – her partnership with Kadidiatou Diani continues to flourish.

Substitutes – Vicki Becho, Estelle Cascarino, Naomie Feller, Aïssatou Tounkara, Viviane Assyi.

Having left Paris Saint-Germain after six seasons, Diani has put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the French champions, who beat the side from the capital to the domestic double last season. The club’s statement indicates that they have beaten several other European clubs to her signature.

The attacker was the league’s top scorer last season – finding the net 17 times in as many games – and was named player of the year and the end-of-campaign UNFP awards. She had missed part of the campaign as a result of a shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League knockout tie against Wolfsburg. 

With Les Fenottes, Diani will be looking to add to her two Coupe de France wins and solitary league title (2021) in the capital – first, though, she has her sights set on World Cup glory with Les Bleues.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin  

Panama entered the final Group Stage match with no prospects of progression. Nonetheless, the Central American side took the lead thanks to a stunning Marta Cox free-kick in the opening minutes. However, Les Bleues quickly wrestled control of the game. 

Maëlle Lakrar met Clara Matéo’s cross to level the score midway through the first half. France then took the lead just minutes later through Diani, who then doubled her tally from the penalty spot before the end of the first half. It would get even better for France before the break. Léa Le Garrec’s cross-turned shot found the back of the net deep in injury time. 

The game was over as a contest, but the goals continued to flow in the second half. Diani completed her hat-trick with another strike from the spot. Goals from Yomira Piinzón and Lineth Cedeño, who headed into an empty net late on reduced the deficit to just two goals, but France restored a three-goal cushion late in injury time thanks to Vicki Bècho’s first goal for Les Bleues. The 6-3 victory sees France progress as group winners. They will face the runners-up from Group H. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

While Les Bleues were lacking an incisive edge in their opening match against Jamaica, it was a different story against today’s opponents. Eugénie Le Sommer’s piercing runs were eventually rewarded, as the Lyon striker opened the scoring after 15 minutes, nodding in after Kadidiatou Diani had knocked the ball on from Sakina Karchaoui’s cross.

France would end up ruing their missed chances in the first half though, as Debinha equalised just before the hour mark after latching onto a blocked shot and evading her marker in Eve Perisset.

The Seleção looked to have the momentum from that moment onwards, with Les Bleues struggling to carve out chances – until they won a corner ten minutes from time. Selma Bacha’s set-piece was sent to the back post, and the captain Wendie Renard stepped up to head in the winner. Although Hervé Renard will likely be concerned by the team’s poor start to the second half – and their many instances of defensive dithering – but their spirited late fightback has renewed hope of going far in the tournament. Next up, Panama on Wednesday.

France player ratings

Pauline Peyraud-Magnin: 4 – Somewhat shaky with the ball at her feet, and her hesitation with regard to coming off her line sometimes amplified France’s defensive struggles. Made some good reflex stops, though.

Eve Perisset: 5

Maëlle Lakrar: 5

Wendie Renard: 6

Sakina Karchaoui: 5

Kenza Dali: 5

Grace Geyoro: 6

Sandie Toletti: 5

Selma Bacha: 6

Kadidiatou Diani: 6

Eugénie Le Sommer: 7 – A vastly different performance compared to last week – the Lyon forward constantly broke through the Brazilian defence and worked well in tandem with Diani.

It would be another devastating blow for Francem after the injuries sustained by several key players, namely centre-back Griedge Mbock (dislocated knee), winger Delphine Cascarino (torn ACL), free-scoring forward Marie-Antoinette Katoto (ACL) and experienced midfielder Amandine Henry (thigh injury) before the World Cup. L’Équipe understand that France manager Hervé Renard is expected to shuffle his pack for Brazil. Maëlle Lakrar, who started as a right-back against Jamaica, is set to replace Wendie Renard against the Brazilians alongside Elisa De Almeida. Les Bleues will play Marta’s Brazil on Saturday at Brisbane. A defeat would jeopardise France’s chances of qualifying for the knock-out stages.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval