The match was no contest, Hervé Renard was largely changed, and the mission was accomplished: the French women's national football team beat Portugal (1-0) on Tuesday evening on the final day of the League of Nations group stage. After the Blue Team secured its qualification to the fourth final of the European Nations League after defeating Austria last Friday, it finished the group stage unbeaten (16 points out of 18), with only one goal conceded. On Monday, after the draw conducted by UEFA, they will know their opponent in the semi-finals of the competition, which they will face next February.
The French team scored in the final minutes through Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Grace Giroud, who received a cross from Vicky Picho at the far post (90).H+3). A few minutes before that, the French hit the crossbar twice after a free kick from Salma Pasha.
Hervé Renard, who arrived at the beginning of 2023 as coach, did not exaggerate by announcing on Monday his desire to continue the “manpower review”, in addition to the packages of Kadidiato Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who felt muscular discomfort and left. The march is on Monday. He fielded ten players who are usually non-starters.
Fox: 'Not everything was perfect'
He said through the France 4 microphone after the match: “We showed cohesion and solidarity. Everything was not perfect. It is not easy to make ten changes and achieve a win here, and this proves the resources of this group.”
The Frenchman could have conceded a goal, but the referee indicated that there was questionable offside from a Portuguese player (55H). A lively, goal-to-goal first half kept the suspense going, with the Portuguese determined to win to stay in League One. Thus, Estelle Cascarino had to work on a comeback in the last minute through an intervention inside the penalty area on Encarnaço (25H).
In the second half for the Blue Team, Vivian Accie found the post, then two minutes later Melvyn Mallard, who replaced her, had her shot from close range beaten by goalkeeper Patricia Moraes.
