We heard a fly fly. Or a Dutchwoman screaming… The expression took on its full meaning this Tuesday evening in Valenciennes. In a surreal atmosphere, which will be found in almost all stadiums in France for at least a month, the Bleues have completed the first French Tournament in history. While 15,000 spectators were expected, the Hainaut stadium sounded hollow because of the closed camera decreed because of coronavirus.
The show was therefore on the field, where the French managed to snatch a 3-3 draw at the last minute of additional time, against the European champions and vice-world champions, after a match with twists and turns. An exit through the front door for Corinne Diacre's team, already guaranteed to win the tournament after its success (1-0 each time) against Canada and Brazil.
Next meetings for the Blue against North Macedonia on April 10 and then in Austria on April 14 for the qualifications of Euro 2021 in England.
What you must remember
As she had announced, Corinne Diacre again made a big turnover. After eight changes in the starting lineup between games against Canada and Brazil, the three-color coach made seven changes on Tuesday. The two competitors for the center-forward position, the Montpellier Gauvin and the Parisian Katoto, were aligned together, the second in a leading role. But it was the first, already a goalscorer against Brazil, who revived the hope of a reversal just before the break (45th + 1), taking advantage of a poorly adjusted head back from Janssen.
Before that, the French defense, too lax, had been surprised twice in the space of three minutes (29th, 32nd). Two errors repaired at the hour of play after the penalty obtained for a hand of Spitse and transformed by Mbock (59th). While it was thought that Martens had definitively extinguished the Blue with a superb strike in full skylight (73), Sarr saved the honor on a center behind Torrent (90 + 4).
The player: Eugénie Le Sommer
To believe that the record burns his feet. The Lyon striker still missed the opportunity to match or beat Marinette Pichon, still the top scorer in the history of the Blue with 81 goals. Returning from an injury before the Tournament, the 30-year-old Breton remains one unit. Little in sight before being replaced at break, she only signaled herself on a shot repelled by the goalkeeper (37th).
The number: 26
The Blue had not conceded three goals in a match for two years and the 4-1 loss against England on March 1, 2018 at the SheBelievesCup tournament in the United States, for 26 games in total. They had not conceded a single since the elimination 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the World Cup by the United States in June. The Netherlands ended 594 minutes of invincibility.
Match sheet
FRANCE - NETHERLANDS 3-3.
Half-time: 1-2.
Spectators: in camera. Arbitrator: Mr. Pustovoitova.
Goals. France: Gauvin (45th + 1) Mbock (59th sp), Sarr (90th + 4); Netherlands: Wilms (29th), Spitse (32nd sp).
Warnings. France: Bilbault (65th), Torrent; Netherlands: Roord (70th).
France: Durand - Torrent, Tounkara, Mbock, Morroni (Karchaoui, 66th) - Henry (cap.) (Geyoro, 46th), Bilbault - Diani, Katoto (Dali, 77th), Le Sommer (Asseyi, 46th) - Gauvin (Sarr , 66e). Entr. : Deacon.
Netherlands : Van Veenendaal - Wilms, Van der Gragt (Kerkdijk, 79th), Janssen, Van Es - Groenen, Spitse (Jansen, 64th), Roord - Van de Sanden (Kaagman, 84), Beerensteyn, Martens. Entr. : Wiegman.