Paris Olympics 2024, Group Stages, 25/07/2024
The message had been clear ahead of this competition for France. The mistakes of the past had to be ignored, and the sleeping giants of the women’s game needed to finally wake. They had never won a medal before at the Olympics, but with the Summer Games back on their soil, the hope was that they would right that wrong.
Les Bleues would be up against fierce competition in Colombia. The South American side led by the mercurial talent of Linda Caiecedo had been the surprise package of last year’s World Cup, and there was hope within the nation that they would be able to repeat that feat.
However, France raced to an early start five minutes into the game as Marie-Antoinette Katoto was the fastest to react to a poor-shouldered pass from Caicedo back to Jorelyn Carabalí. Katoto drove into the box picking up the loose ball and sliding her shot past the onrushing Katherine Tapia.
Seven minutes later and Katoto almost recorded her second. The Paris Saint-Germain striker latched onto a corner from Kenza Dali. Her strike was powerful but placed directly into the path of Tapia. It would be Dali that found the net again for France as the hosts began to cruise. The midfielder from outside the box whipped a spectacular shot towards goal, it took a kind deflection allowing for it to dink off the crossbar and fall into the net.
Colombia had chances, particularly on the counter-attack, with Mayra Ramírez forcing a save from Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. The Chelsea striker looked like the best outlet for Colombia but often she struck an isolated figure during the first half of the game swarmed by a French defence that never allowed her too much time.
Before halftime arrived, France made it three. Kadidiatou Diani and Katoto combined perfectly. The two former teammates passed it between one another keeping the Colombian defence always at bay. Diani dragged the ball wide holding off tackles and allowing Katoto to position herself in front of the goal, before she then crossed the ball towards Katoto who brushed the ball home with a neat header.
France set for rude awakening as second-half begins
Colombia needed a change and the coach Ángelo Marsiglia was decisive in taking off the captain Daniela Montoya for Manuela Paví. It signalled an intention to not give up on the result and this mentality bore results as Ramírez remained a constant pest making darting runs towards the goal. One of these tricked Wendie Renard, while another brought about a penalty as she was brought down by Peyraud-Magnin.
Catalina Usme stepped up for the penalty and with a cruel slow shot sent Peyruad-Magnin the wrong way. Colombia controlled the ball far better in the second half and with momentum swinging decisively in their favour they took advantage of this to cut the deficit to one. A brilliant and tenacious run from the substitute Paví was equalled by a chip over the goalkeeper.
Hervé Renard had to make immediate changes. Sakina Karchaoui and Delphine Cascarino came off for Selma Bacha and Sandy Baltimore. France looked far from comfortable despite still being in the lead, and the calm and composed presence that the team had emitted for the entire first 45 minutes was thoroughly shaken.
France were given a reprieve after Ramírez was sent off for serious foul play. A late challenge from the striker saw her accidentally stamp on Bacha. The referee originally awarded a yellow but after consulting VAR upgraded the decision to a straight red card. The hosts with the man advantage were finally able to rescue a bit of control back into their night.
The final whistle was a welcome sound for a stadium that had become extremely nervous. The sleeping giants appeared to have woken for a half before they reverted to type. Work will have to be done before France take on Canada this Sunday if they have any hope of ending the Olympics with their first-ever medal.
France: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin; Sakina Karchaoui (Selma Bacha 71’), Wendie Renard, Griedge Mbock Bathy, Maëlle Lakrar, ; Sandie Toletti, Grace Geyoro, Kenza Dali, Kadidiatou Diani (Amandine Henry 90+1’), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Eugénie Le Sommer 90+4’), Delphine Cascarino (Sandy Baltimore 71’).
Colombia: Katherine Tapia; Carolina Arias (Yirleidis Quejada Minota 82’), Daniela Arias, Jorelyn Carabalí, Manuela Vanegas; Daniela Montoya (Manuela Paví 45’), Marcela Restrepo, Leicy Santos; Linda Caicedo, Mayra Ramírez (Red card 84’), Catalina Usme.
