8 months ago
88 Hervé Renard walked distant from the narrowest of Women’s World Cup quarter-final exits and instantly started plotting France’s adjacent accidental to avenge a nonaccomplishment to Australia.
The Matildas held fifth-ranked France 0-0 successful regularisation and other clip and past won 7-6 successful a punishment shootout connected Saturday successful Brisbane. The Australians precocious to the semi-finals for the archetypal clip and volition adjacent look European champion England.
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Renard’s French lineup volition spell home, their attraction already turned to the Olympics starting adjacent July 26 successful Paris.
“Now we person to look forward,” Renard said. “We’re organising the Olympic Games successful Paris. So, we’re awaiting for you. We’ll person our revenge!”
The French volition decidedly beryllium determination arsenic hosts, but Australia hasn't completed Asian qualifying. Still, the sentiment is each the same.
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In March, Renard replaced Corinne Diacre arsenic caput manager of a French women's squad that was successful turmoil. Captain Wendie Renard was considering skipping the World Cup and a big of elder players seemingly weren't successful the framework for selection.
He rebuilt the squad, recalling the likes of starring scorer Eugenie Le Sommer, topped Group F with wins implicit Braziland Panama, and past trounced Morocco 4-0 successful the circular of 16.
With those victories, the well-traveled Renard became the archetypal caput manager to triumph games astatine some the women’s and men’s World Cups. His upset triumph with Saudi Arabia implicit eventual champion Argentina was 1 of the highlights of the men’s World Cup successful Qatar past year.
Against Australia, though, helium said it was similar taking connected an full nation. The Australians are co-hosting the tourney with New Zealand, and the government, the shot federation and the nationalist are profoundly invested successful the occurrence of the Matildas. It was the 3rd consecutive nonaccomplishment for France successful a Women's World Cup quarterfinal, including successful 2019 arsenic host.
The French had chances successful some halves of regularisation time, and successful other clip — erstwhile the Australians appeared to concede an own-goal lone for the referee to disallow it.
Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold repelled each French effort connected extremity and past made 3 clutch saves successful the shootout.
Renard sent connected shootout specializer Solene Durand heavy successful other clip to regenerate France’s starting goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. She made 3 saves, which would usually beryllium capable to triumph it. But, arsenic Renard said, it's a crippled of little than inches.
“We knew the qualities of Durand. She’s astonishing connected the punishment shootout,” Renard said. "If we'd won, I was the king of the world. But this evening I’m thing due to the fact that we mislaid for immoderate millimetres.
"This evening it was 50-50, but destiny chose Australia. It was a fantastic representation of women’s football.”
Organisers person sold much than 1.7 cardinal tickets, a Women's World Cup record, and there's been sellout crowds for the large games — including 2 exceeding 75,000 for Australia's games astatine Sydney's Stadium Australia.
The expanded 32-team tourney has added an other constituent of excitement, and evidently much games.
Australia is the lone non-European squad near successful the tourney present that it's down to four, with its adjacent crippled against its oldest sporting rival for a spot successful the last against either Sweden oregon Spain.
Renard wouldn't caput seeing the Aussies triumph it, if conscionable for helping to enactment connected specified a vibrant tournament.
“I’m wishing you each the best," helium said. "I would similar to repetition 1 much time: This contention was fantastic for us. Beautiful cities, beauteous stadiums, the ambiance was fantastic.
“It’s a shame for america to spell home. But, each the champion to you present — I’m definite you tin triumph this World Cup.”
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