24' 0-0 #8 Bompasto hits #14 Necib at 36m box left. Necib touches inward to 30m arc left, chips a poor sand wedge, backspins gently wide right. Waste of a possession (thinks Bompastor). 26' 0-0 Japan ping across the back. France is being fairly direct, with Thomis's speed. Downside: she runs from so far back (~midfield) that Japan's backline are not under any immediate pressure. Japan are showing medium stretches of their ball control. 27' 0-0 Japan create a 2-v-3 knot of confusion at arc top center, but France possess.
Pretty hold and Japan looking for one of their counters. Please let France score 1st so we don't have to watch more of this.
29' 0-0 #6(c) Soubeyrand(?) hooks #10 Sawa(?)'s leg just late at center circle (Japan's) top. No call, Japan possess in the back. 30' 0-0 Japan chip long down box left, too long. Odd trick to pull out of their bag -- surely by design. Picking on Franco/Georges?
Whenever JP mentions France in white I can't help but think of surrendering... Thanks for the assist against the Brits and other skirmishes early in US history. I'm thankful.
Good challenge by Renard. Japan 1-0 Error will give them give them a win, becaue here comes the Queens of hold.
That challenge by Renard led to the goal. Clear keeper error, though. Went right through her hands. Punch or catch.
31' 0-0 #2 Renard fouls #17 Ogimi's right Achilles at 8 mowed stripes (~42m) box right. 31' 0-1 Free kick, #8(c) Miyama drives it medium-low and fast to 6-top right post. #18 Bouhaddi comes out in traffic, distracted, hops and gets hands high but doesn't squeeze. Ball bends her fingers back, squirts over #2 Renard, drops to 4m. #17 Yuki Ogimi poaches, runs past ball, reaches back and topspin-ticks ball forward. Soubeyrand slides but cannot hook it out.
Like kool-aide mentioned above, Renard should be on that. Personally, I think she's a little overrated. Trouble marking attackers in the box, tracking down balls in flight, and gets muscled off the ball too easily for someone with her size and strength. But the POTENTIAL....
By the way, can I just say that the crowd for this match is awesome. Maybe the loudest outside of the GB matches.
36' 0-1 France dribble to 25m center; Japan choose to sag off and defend box top. France pass to box top center, poked out. France chip into right corner, miss long. 36' 0-1 France control at 12m box right. Delie right-outsteps a backward flick, France one-touch a high cross to 9m 1/3 right. #17 Thiney crashes from the other side, jumps strong through #2 Kinga. Fukumoto shows how it's done, comes out strong and punches way out. 39' 0-1 France return to 25m arc top center. Diagonal flick to left touch misses #8 Bompastor's overlapping run, into touch. Japan do not deign to ping past midfield ...
Expect to see the French coach checking all the W-League & NCAA rosters next year for a GK with a French last name.