In the last two matches between the second and third ranked sides, USA and France respectively, the public were provided with a good insight into how fickle and opportunistic the 2015 Women’s World Cup could be.
The previous meetings between them saw France win 2-0 in February, and in the second match, the USA won 2-0 in the recent Algarve Cup final,.
The French Woman’s National team has become one of the most consistent national outfits in women’s football and has been steadily moving up the ranking charts since the 2011 World Cup, winning the 2012 Cyprus Cup.
The bookies currently have France (third) at 12-1, which is good odds especially with the potential that they have, so could this be their year?
France have shown a steady improvement since 2011 when they went down to Sweden in the World Cup bronze medal match, but more recently they have defeated World Champions Germany 2-0 and Brazil (seventh) 2-0 in friendlies.
In the past, they have seemed to struggle against the likes of Germany (first), USA (second) and Japan (fourth), but if they can peak at the right time in Canada, they could be in with a chance to lift the trophy for the first time.
France setup in a very compact 4-4-2 and make it difficult for opposition to ‘play’, even the top sides. With the confident Sarah Bouhaddi in net leading from the back, they are poised to make a good showing this year in Canada.
This looks is their more prolific attacking side to date, with the lightning speed of Elodie Thomis on the right and the inventive overlapping runs of right-back Jessica Houara. Even the USA last time out had trouble containing them.
Eugenie Le Sommer up-front is total class in tight spaces and if she is on her game has the ability to turn a match. Interestingly, seven out of eight of Frances’ top all time scorers are in the 2015 World Cup squad, and with eight of them all playing their domestic football for Lyon, are not strangers to each other.
Under manager Philippe Bergeroo, Les Bleues have adopted a very aggressive attacking style and will push their midfielders Louisa Necib and Thomis up high, worrying outside defenders.
In the middle-third they switch the ball very competently to change their point of attack and have become more proficient at forward rotations, with outside left midfielder Necib coming in at angles to put more pressure on the defensive centre-backs.
France are very quick on the counter-attack and are very adept at swinging the momentum their way at the most opportune moments in the match, such as just before half-time, and if the opposition give the ball away too easily they will be punished.
With Amandine Henry and Camille Abily in central-midfield, coupled with other forward Gaetane Thiney dropping in to help, they are very astute at controlling the key areas, showing patience and quick penetration when the time is right.
Combining with England, Mexico and Columbia in the group stages and with the steady improvement that Les Bleues have shown, it is a pretty good bet that they will be there at the end contending for their first World Cup silverware.
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