by Matteo Marzoli
Going into the match this was a must win for France as they were tied in points with Korea DPR in their group. A win against Colombia would’ve sent them through indefinitely. As they’ve established themselves as an attacking team, the French side have scored the highest amount of goals in the tournament with seven alongside the United States. With six different players getting on the score sheet throughout the tournament Marie-Laure Delie led “le bleu” with two goals. Also Louisa Necib and Elodie Thomis contributed with two assists each in the tournament leading up to this match.
It didn’t take long for France to set the tone as they took the early lead with a beautiful curling through ball off the feet of Louisa Necib putting Thomis in a clear one on one path to goal. Thomis slotted it in by the keeper’s left side and put France ahead by one within the first ten minutes. Colombia was very lucky not to be down by at least three goals. Goalkeeper Sandra Sepulvida kept Colombia in the game as the back four seemed extremely disorganized and continuously allowed for French penetrating through passes to break them down. France were outpassing, outcrossing, and outshooting them but couldn’t find the composure in front of net to give them a comfortable enough lead.
With a half completely dominated by the French, Sepulvida established herself as the potential player of the match coming up with unbelievable saves time and time again. Louisa Necib orchestrated the French attack with multiple threatening through passes as well as composure in the middle of the park that no one else matched. She was definitely France’s most impacting and productive player.
As the game ended we saw an entirely different Colombian side in the second half, but the lack of intelligence in front of net hurt them and they couldn’t get the goal they needed. A much lazier and disorganized France won by a 1-0 margin, but with a handful of missed chances in the first half and a very dodgy back four in the second. France should’ve considered themselves very lucky to leave with a win.
Player of the Match: Colombia’s Sepulvida and French Louisa Necib