Scoreless at the half ... not a lot between the two sides so far. France outshooting the Koreans 5-2 and they have the only shot on net, but Eun Sun Park had the best chance with a missed header at the back post.
France's women did what the men's team last year in Japan/Korea couldn't - they won a world cup game Marinette Pichon's 84th minute goal was the difference as Les Bleues defeated South Korea and joined Brazil and Norway with three points each, which will set up a wild finish this weekend. Paul
Pichon had best not waste as many chances as she did today if France's last group match is to look anything like the WC '98 final. Brazil definitely look like the favorites to win Group B and potentially miss playing the Americans.
That was much too close. France had so many opportunities. And there was a handball that the ref missed when Elodie and Marinette tried to kick the ball inside of about 10 yards when a player was down on the ground. But luckily Pichon pulled through.
Can someone explain the offsides on France in the 2nd half? Ball bouncing 30 yards from touch line with Pichon and sk def right there - pinchon takes several dribbles and is in the box and offsides gets called? Why so late?
I think I remember that one. Pichon was in the middle and there was a Korean defender covering someone away from Pichon and she was closer to the goal than Pichon was. There were a few of the going-back type of offside for Pichon. But surely, that wasn't one of them. I remember that being a bad call.
France's men do have a WC title... and their current team is packed with talent and will be a major force for quite a while... Zidane and Pires BOTH being hurt left them without a player to run their offense... all that high powered offense without a steering wheel... A player like Cisse is a sub.......most teams would shape their squad aroubd a player like Cisse
Before last night, I had never seen so many non-offside offside calls in a game. We're not even talking about borderline decisions, but complete misses -- the lineswomen were downright horrible. I thought Pichon played okay. She didn't blow that many chances, especially considering the fact that the Koreans were triple-teaming her the entire match. How she managed to get unmarked on the set piece for the goal is beyond me. The player who disappointed most was Stephanie Mugneret-Béghé. She's always impressed me in the WUSA but last night her runs and touches were just lacking. The Koreans moved the ball around much more crisply and effectively than against Brazil, but the final ball into the box was usually poor (though the French keeper came up with a couple of HUGE saves in the second half). In some ways, this match was more enjoyable than Brazil-Norway. The second half was constant wide-open, back-and-forth action and the result always seemed in doubt. Plus, the crowd (mostly due to the Korean fans in the upper section) was much livelier.
Hey, even scoring a goal would have been a step up. It's one thing to not to advance, or not win a game, but to be held to three consecutive shut outs? Not even China managed that! G.
"The player who disappointed most was Stephanie Mugneret-Béghé. She's always impressed me in the WUSA but last night her runs and touches were just lacking" Yes, compared to other games, she just didn't do as well. But she had several chances but none of those around the box shots like against Norway. "Before last night, I had never seen so many non-offside offside calls in a game. We're not even talking about borderline decisions, but complete misses -- the lineswomen were downright horrible" You're probably right. There were some non-calls there. Marty was the best player out there. Great performance.
I was amazed that KR would take out its captain and center back right before Pichon scored the gamewinner. Aack.