To be played May 8 - 18 in France. Six participants: France, Japan, North Korea, Haiti, Mexico & Gabon. Teams are all U-20 teams.
Sud Ladies Cup schedule and info HERE Games will be streamed free on youtube, facebook and twitter (info here)
1ère JOURNÉE / MATCHDAY 1 :🏟 @SalonProvence 12:30 : Japan 🇯🇵-🇲🇽 Mexico #JPNMEX15:00 : Gabon 🇬🇦-🇭🇹 Haiti #GABHAI17:30 : France 🇫🇷-🇰🇵 DPR Korea #FRAPRK📺Matchs diffusés en direct sur nos comptes Twitter, Facebook et Youtube : https://t.co/RHGLEiU7OK#SLC2019 pic.twitter.com/e9aB30x5eI— Sud Ladies Cup (@SudLadiesCup) May 8, 2019
I watched the France vs. NK Sud Ladies Cup match, and it was pretty dull, a defensive struggle that ended 0-0, with France winning it on PKs. The North Koreans--or should I say the North Korean, as from a distance every player is nearly the exact same height with the exact same (sturdy) build and the same cropped hair, as if one player was cloned and is manning every position--kept eight behind the ball and the French found it nearly impossible to penetrate the opposition defense and get the ball into the attacking third. NK countered effectively at least three times in the first half and might have had a goal were it not for a couple of good saves by the French keeper. The French were better in possession in the second half and dictated play but could still do little to threaten the NK goal. They had one opportunity when they finally got the ball in deep, near the front of the NK goal, and a French midfielder, I think, flicked the ball with her toe and nearly scored--the NK keeper tipping the ball over the bar. However, that was pretty much the only serious chance the French had all match--I think it was their only SOG. For its part, NK did nothing in attack in the second half, seemingly content to sit back and thwart the French--they either couldn't get forward at all or didn't want to try, I'm not sure which. All in all, as I say, it was a pretty lackluster game.
Tied at 0 after regulation time and there was no overtime period--they went straight to PKs, which France won 4-3.
📈 CLASSEMENT final @SudLadiesCup 2019 🏆1⃣ DPR Korea 🇰🇵 | 13 pts2⃣ @jfa_nadeshiko 🇯🇵 | 12 pts3⃣ @equipedefrance 🇫🇷 | 10 pts4⃣ @miseleccionmx 🇲🇽 | 6 pts5⃣ @fhfhaiti 🇭🇹 | 4 pts6⃣ @fegafoot_gabon 🇬🇦 | 0 pts➡️ https://t.co/gLkqixMXSK#SLC2019 pic.twitter.com/GllAO0aba5— Sud Ladies Cup (@SudLadiesCup) May 18, 2019 L'équipe type de la @SudLadiesCup 2019 ⭐️The Sud Ladies Cup 2019 best XI ! ⭐️🇫🇷Plus d'infos : https://t.co/vDi75SQHi5🇬🇧More details : https://t.co/1zlVtALgNt#SLC2019 pic.twitter.com/flcohqrGe3— Sud Ladies Cup (@SudLadiesCup) May 19, 2019 Results Videos
Was expecting a bit more from France in this tourney. The team was pretty solid, as some good young players, but really struggled in attack in the last two games--against Mexico (got its lone goal in stoppage time to tie the game and then won it on PKs) and did not score at all against Japan.
Yeah, not great a few players were missing Delabre, the OL and LOSC players, but still. The tournament was a very important tool for our coach who now knows his 20 players squad for the Euros in Scotland. And get games against potential opponents at the U-20 2020 WC.
Shij: Do you know anything about Sonia Ouchene--midfielder for the France U20 squad? What's the skinny on her game?
She is a good technical midfielder. Plays her club football in Spain and you can see it in the way she plays She could develop into a proper number 10 or just reach a plateau in the next few years. Hard to know.