Australia to play France in quarter-final after Les Bleues hammer Morocco
The Matildas will face France in a quarter-final on Saturday after Les Bleues cruised to a 4-0 victory over Morocco in their round of 16 clash in Adelaide.
France’s Eugenie Le Sommer netted a brace to lead in the win over debutants Morocco on Tuesday night, propelling her side into the quarter-finals.
Morocco became the lowest-ranked team (72) to play in the last 16, bouncing back from a 6-0 rout by Germany to beat South Korea and Colombia. But they were no match for fifth-ranked France who went unbeaten in the group stage, capped by a dramatic 6-3 win over Panama.
A three-goal burst in nine minutes took the game away from Morocco, with Kadidiatou Diani, Kenza Dali and Eugenie Le Sommer all scoring early in the match.
Le Sommer, who is France’s all-time leading scorer, headed in a fourth in the 70th minute to complete the win. She has now scored 92 goals for her country – more than any French player, male or female.
“Her game was exceptional,” France coach Herve Renard said. “Each time I’m actually blown away by what she’s capable of doing.”
France’s Eugenie Le Sommer heads the ball to score her team’s fourth goal against Morocco.Credit: AP
France took fourth place in 2011 and this is the fourth straight time they have advanced to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Renard knows his team has a sizeable task to get past Australia when the teams meet in Brisbane on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals.
France lost a friendly to the Matildas leading into the tournament. But Renard said he believed the pressure of being a co-host, along with New Zealand, could weigh heavily on the Matildas in front of their home fans. France were eliminated as hosts in the quarter-finals in 2019.
“It can be hugely disappointing, and it was for France when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals,” Renard said.
“And we are hoping to put Australia through exactly what France went through when they were the host country ... We’ve come with great ambition and if you come with great ambition you need to be capable of beating the best teams.”
The Australia v France match-up in Brisbane is a repeat of the clash between the two nations at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne a few weeks ago.
That was the final match for each nation before they started the World Cup. Australia won on that night 1-0 thanks to a Mary Fowler goal.
This World Cup marked the first time three African nations made the last 16 – Morocco, South Africa and Nigeria. Morocco were hoping to become the first African nation to win a knockout game.
Nouhaila Benzina had also made history as the first player to wear a hijab in the Women’s World Cup.
Reuters, AAP
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