A settled matter. Before the Olympic Games, where their qualification was quickly confirmed as host nation, Hervé Renard’s players validated their ticket for Euro 2025, which will take place in Switzerland, thanks to their success (2-1) against Sweden this Friday evening in Dijon. Top of their qualifying group ahead of England, who beat Ireland at the same time, the Bleues can breathe before starting their Olympic tournament on July 25 against Colombia in Lyon.
The Swedish goalkeepers quickly got hot in this match. In the 9th minute, Kadidiatou Diani hit Musovic’s right post after a cross from Delphine Cascarino. A quarter of an hour later, the Swedish goalkeeper deployed perfectly on a shot from Elisa De Almeida, then it was Cascarino’s turn to prevent Sweden from opening the score when in the 27th minute, she deflected a shot from Rolfö.
But it was the French women who would score the first goal of the evening. And in what style! In the 31st minute, after another hot opportunity in front of the Swedish goal, a corner was awarded to the Bleues. Upon receiving a Swedish header, De Almeida found Geyoro who passed to her PSG teammate Sakina Karchaoui. Untroubled, the left-back tried her shot from thirty meters and scored a wonderful goal that made the Gaston-Gérard stadium exult.
After this goal, the Blues concluded a well-controlled first period. But were showered as soon as they returned from the locker room on a Swedish corner. In the 49th minute of play, the French Sandie Toletti deflected the ball at the near post and the leather landed at the feet of Josefine Rybrink who equalized from close range (1-1). Enough to give wings to the Swedes who showed themselves to be more dangerous, like the cross from Jakobsson well caught by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin at the hour mark.
Ten minutes later, Geyoro seemed to get tangled up in front of the Swedish goalkeeper and missed the opportunity to allow her team to get back in front. It was necessary to wait a few moments because Marie-Antoinette Katoto would score her goal after a corner. After a header from Wendie Renard, the Parisian striker followed well, scored her thirtieth goal in blue, and sealed her team’s ticket to Switzerland.
After a crossbar found by Linda Sembrant’s header in added time, Hervé Renard can breathe. He will be able to rotate his squad in Cork on Tuesday night against Ireland for his players’ dress rehearsal before the Olympic Games at home.
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