They are tight at the time of the Marseillaise, gathered in a circle before warmly applauding the memory of Aimé Mignot, the first coach to have guided the Bleues towards a final phase of the European championship, in Sweden in 1997 and recently died at 89 years.
The French, pushed by 10,000 supporters gathered in the MMArena of Le Mans, then took the match on their entry account in order to validate as quickly as possible this long-awaited ticket for the World Cup next year (July 20 - 20 August) in Australia and New Zealand.
A draw was enough for Corine Deacon's players.
With seven successes in the first seven games of these qualifications, they arrived in confidence at Le Mans for this last meeting before the Euro in England (July 6-31).
The desire was therefore strong to validate the qualification before the last two days scheduled in September against Estonia and Greece.
To carry out this mission, the coach had decided to make six changes compared to the team which had won last Friday in Wales (2-1).
Only goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, captain Wendie Renard, side Eve Perisset and forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Delphine Cascarino had retained their starting places.
𝙏𝙊𝙐𝙏 𝘿𝙊𝙉𝙉𝙀𝙍 🔥
🇫🇷🇸🇮 #FRASLO |
#ProudofBleues pic.twitter.com/mR0houwD9n
– French Women's Team (@equipedefranceF) April 12, 2022
Despite a few unsteady passes, the tricolors quickly took the game on their own.
They thus multiplied the attempts with long shots from Baltimore (5th), Palis (8th, 16th), Dali (40th), Perisset (42nd), Matéo (45th) or heads from Renard (11th) and Tounkara (20th) .
However, it was the Slovenians who got the biggest chance and made the spectators from all over the region tremble, like this young fan club from La Suze-sur-Sarthe.
It took an exceptional tap from Pauline Peyraud-Magnin on a lob attempt inspired by Zver to avoid the cold shower (8th).
The Juventus goalkeeper will still be inspired to spring into the feet of Milovic who started on the edge of offside (43rd).
Determined not to play for longer, the Blues accelerated from the start of the second period.
The Paris FC striker overflowed on the left side and her center in front of goal was perfectly taken over by Delphine Cascarino (1-0, 48th).
With their 8th success (1-0 against Slovenia) in 8 qualifying matches, Les Bleues win their ticket for the 2023 World Cup pic.twitter.com/2yL2AXlpYS
— The Parisian |
sport (@leparisiensport) April 12, 2022
In a one-sided end to the game, the French continued to get chances.
Renard's head notably found the post (53rd).
Corinne Deacon made some changes at the end of the match, notably leaving Parisiennes Baltimore and Katoto.
For these, a Champions League semi-final is looming against OL on April 24 and 30.
At the final whistle, the Blue showed their satisfaction.
They could undertake a deserved lap of honor to the cheers of spectators delighted to wave their blue-white-red flags.
France - Slovenia 1-0
Half time: 0-0
Spectators: 10,103.
Goal.
D. Cascarino (48th).
Warning.
Slovenia: Korosec (35th).
France: Peyraud-Magnin - Torrent, Tounkara, Renard (cap.) Perisset - Dali (Bilbault 88th), Palis, Matéo (Toletti, 77th) - D. Cascarino, Katoto (Sarr, 78th), Baltimore (Asseyi, 78th).
Entr.
Deacon.