FRANCE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY one of the top teams in women’s football.
Les Bleus come to town tomorrow as the Republic of Ireland gear up for their first-ever World Cup.
Tallaght Stadium hosts the glamour send-off friendly [KO 8pm, RTÉ Two]. The FAI announced last month that all tickets had been sold, with a carnival atmosphere expected before Vera Pauw’s side depart for Australia.
France are fine-tuning preparations themselves, the team ranked fifth in Fifa’s world rankings — Ireland are at an all-time high of 22nd — expected to go deep into the tournament.
They’re joined by Brazil, Jamaica and Panama in Group F; having won all 10 of their qualifying group matches, scoring 54 goals and conceding just four times. (Ireland held the same defensive record, but scored less than half as many goals.)
They’ve had a change of management since qualifying, with Hervé Renard replacing Corrine Diacre amidst turmoil in March 2023.
As described by the French Football Federation (FFF) when Diacre departed, there had been “a very significant divide” with the players that “reached the point of no return”. Some of the team’s stars, including captain Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, had stepped away, while others like Amandine Henry and Eugénie Le Sommer were controversially left out of the 2022 European Championships squad.
France reached the semi-finals of last summer’s tournament, beaten 2-1 by an Alexandra Popp-inspired Germany in a disappointing finish. They topped their group after wins over Italy and Belgium and a draw with Iceland, and later overcame the Netherlands after extra time in the quarter-finals.
They bowed out at the last-eight stage of the 2019 World Cup, which they hosted, with Megan Rapinoe leading the USA to glory.
Hervé Renard, Saudi Arabia manager at the 2022 Men’s World Cup, is now at the helm, with most of France’s big names back in situ. Renard famously guided Saudi Arabia to an opening game win over eventual champions Argentina in Qatar, but they lost their other games and bowed out after the group stages.
The 54-year-old Frenchman holds the title of the first coach to win the African Cup of Nations with two different teams, steering both Zambia (2012) and Ivory Coast (2015) to glory. He also managed Morocco at the 2018 World Cup, before taking the Saudi reins the following year.
Renard has overseen two France games thus far: a 5-2 win over Colombia and a 2-1 victory against Canada, Ireland’s Group B rivals. They’ve played a 4-3-3 formation in both, with huge emphasis on width and fast attack.
Louise Quinn pointed to the managerial change, among other factors, as she braced herself for the visit of France yesterday.
“It’s a top, top challenge,” she told The 42. “They’re probably going to be a bit of a new outfit and [looking to show] what they’re about with the new coach. It’s gonna be brilliant and challenging.
“They are a top, top nation, but that’s what we need. we need a high pressure situation and in front of our home crowd. To me, that’s probably more pressure — doing it on your home pitch. It’s going to be a great opportunity for us.
“And they have one of the best centre backs, Wendie Renard. I played against her when we have played France in the past. I’m looking forward to playing her now again.”
Not only is Lyon defender Renard an anchor in defence, she is a huge set-piece threat — like Quinn. Henry is back in the fold after a three-year absence, while Le Sommer and Grace Geyoro are among those in a rich vein of form.
Katoto and Delphine Cascarino are both out with cruciate ligament knee injuries, and there have been question marks over a sense of unfamiliarity with Hervé Renard’s tactics, but France will come to Dublin firing on all cylinders.
They’re due to play Australia in Melbourne on 14 July, Ireland set to make their major tournament bow against the co-hosts six days later. (The Girls In Green tune up against Colombia in a behind closed doors clash.)
Pauw’s side face France with a view to that showdown against the Matildas.
“That’s it,” Quinn added. “We’ve had success against Australia before as well, but this will be a very, very different game. I just think we’ve proven it to ourselves now, what we’re worth.
“We know how to make it hard for teams, we know how to get the job done, we stick together throughout it. We know that every person there literally gives 100% for the team — and even sometimes if it isn’t enough or one of those days, you know that someone is still gonna run all day for you. No matter what happens, we know that everyone’s got your back.
“I think that will be the base of what we need for 20 July; the hard work, having our values about us, being humble about everything that we do – which we’ve always been, it’s ingrained in us to be honest. Just can’t wait.”
France first.
Where was George Hook at the time?
@Larry Doyle: Worse piece of journalism I read for months..
Having being the victim of car road rage and being knocked off my pinarello by driver who hates bikes it’s nothing short of attempted murder when it happens.. Drivers should be fu%+&# for it by the courts
@Ian Scott: It absolutely is attempted murder, also assault with a deadly weapon at the very least…
@Ian Scott: yep, I got wiped out of my custom built S Works by an older gentleman who refused to stop as he was on his was to Blackrock Clinic. The Garda found him there and he berated them for embarrassing him, still no charges were brought.
How do you a cyclist has an expensive bicycle?
They feckin tell you.
@Jimmy Ireland: ahh Jimmy… U messed the joke up…. Embarrassed much?
I wonder if he was obeying by the rules of the road.becaus as a bus driver it’s very annoying with some cyclists on the right hand side of the traffic…and to make it worst thay think it’s OK 1 foot from the footpath is the law …and it’s always an man or woman you wouldn’t see a child doing this….
@Derek Moean: what are you talking about? Looking for some angle to blame the cyclist?
@Derek Moean: a bike is wider than one foot it’s one meter.
@Free Gallant: Not really blaming the cyclists but it’s a fact that some people that cycle for sport and leisure Don’t know the basic rules of the road…do you think it’s OK to cycle on the right hand side of car’s and buses…..
@Derek Moean: wanna quote the statue that defines a mandatory 1 foot distance from the footpath for cyclists? You won’t because you’re talking crap, like most bus drivers.
@Dave O Keeffe: sorry Dave the cycle track is a meter wide rules of the road say 1 foot from the footpath….check it out…..
@Geraoid O’Helidhe: not at all if you bothered reading what I sad …SOME CYCLISTS…..
@Partysauras Rex: of course check the rules of the road…..
@Derek Moean: Derek stop moaning about cyclists, and take a look at your and some of your fellow bus drivers attitude towards them, e.g. overtaking a bicycle with less than a foot to spare, driving up until you’re nearly touching the rear wheel, and impatiently honking, and so on.
@Derek Moean:
Derek, I’d ignore your ignorance but for the fact that you said you drive a bus for a living. That’s not in the rules of the road at all. I think you need a career change, ASAP:
http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/Rules_of_the_road.pdf
@Derek Moean: Stop victim blaming.
@Derek Moean: If a bike is overtaking or turning right it’s completely entitled to be on the right. In what other circumstances have you seen this?
Depends if cycle lane blocked…or car giving no space on the left…or cyclist turning right…who knows but in this case biggest issue is the attempted murder….
@Derek Moean: Derek Moron that should be
@Derek Moean: shame that someone who drives for a living and quotes the rules of the road has so obviously never read them.
@Derek Moean: You are 100% wrong. The opposite is true. From:
http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Learner%20Drivers/Rules_of_the_road.pdf
” Keep clear of the kerb – riding clear will make you more visible and help
reduce unsafe overtaking.”
@Derek Moean: Another way of looking at this Derek, is that cyclists are supposed to travel in the middle of the lane, because of idiots like you, who can’t be trusted to drive properly.
@Derek Moean: The report says the driver mounted the footpath in pursuit of the cyclist you muppet
@Partysauras Rex: I think its two abreast on main roads and 1single cyclist on secondary roads
@Derek Moean: yes it’s ok? How else can a cyclist turn right?
If the left lane is for turning left only… where do you think the cyclist should be (if the cyclist is going straight on or turning right)!
And you drive a bus for a living???
@Derek Moean: which equals a foot plus half the width of the handlebars plus the legal clearance you are meant to give, also, a cyclist is perfectly entitled to be on the right hand side of the lane if turning right or avoiding an obstacle on the left and yes if lights are red they are allowed to travel to the front on the right hand side.
@Derek Moean: tell that to the driver of the 15 bus who put me onto the footpath by terenure church when he overtook me me 20ft from the bus stop, didn’t even get close to passing me and stopped to pick up passengers. Now I use a camera so psychotic behaviour like that will be reported to the police and Dublin bus. Everyday I see idiots using the road, peoples attitudes need to change, cars, buses, cyclists, pedestrians, taxis and trucks.
Can’t have a article about a cyclist without the “evil” cyclist anecdotes coming out.
Lets say someone had their car totaled in a hit & run. Would it be fair to say
“Well I have seen people in cars doing stupid things on the road so this they are probably to blame”.
@Jimmy Casey:
Maybe it is because the vast majority of cyclist either do not know the rules of the road or elect to ignore them. I am not into victim blaming but equally trying to argue the fact that cyclists obey the rules of the road is fairly futile
@Nick Allen: Ah yes drivers always follow the rules, never speed, burn red/yellow light, overtake at intersections, turn without signaling, etc etc hypocrite
@Nick Allen: Would you be one of those Racists also there?
@Nick Allen: I just saw a taxi driver drive the wrong way down a one way street and make and illegal turn….so all car drivers are to blame for everything now!!
@Nick Allen: your proving Jimmy’s point for him. He never said all cyclists obey the rules of the road. You on the other hand have said the vast majority don’t. Their in lies the problem some people have, you generalise to suit your own argument.
I’ve been cycling for many years, both for leisure and commuting. I am also a motorist and motorcyclist. In the last couple of years I have seen levels of intolerance, aggression and dangerous behaviour direct at cyclists increase exponentially.
Build more bike lanes…. or more dedicated places to ride bikes without worry of traffic.. Sorted…
@Michael Garvey: Paid for by ??????
@CeannairBlue: Us taxpayers.
@EIDW Traffic: I imagined as much. They can sod off.
@CeannairBlue: Your Dole money
@CeannairBlue: well a cyclist is a tax payer as well, so I don’t see your point.
@Mattia Accinelli: He hasn’t got a point, just an axe, which he likes to grind on anyone who’s sat on a bicycle.
@EIDW Traffic: cyclists pay taxes too and many are car users who pay road tax like everyone else
I guess the car had very little (F)room(e). Said a Spokesperson. Definitely a case for Top Gear!!!
There was probably a cycle path there but as per most cyclists when they see a cycle path they think they are car and use the road.
@kevyg: It’s not mandatory to use the cycle path and if you are cycling fast they are more dangerous than driving on the road (as normally they are shite and you would not have the right of way at intersections)
@Mattia Accinelli: I agree. I don’t use cycling lane for this exact same reason.
@kevyg: Chris Froome is one of cycling’s most successful athletes and earns between 4 and 5 million €uro a year, riding a €12,000 bike, now what do you imagine he’d be doing plodding around on a cycle lane when he out training?
But don’t let all of that get in your way of admonishing all bicyclists!
@Mattia Accinelli: cycle paths are there for your safety. Typical not to use them then blame drivers for being irresponsible.
Just straighten out the wheel and get on with it, I have an old black bessie I can give him the loan of if he’s stuck
It’s a Dogma F10. New model for this year.
Did they get the driver?
@Deborah Behan: Hopefully. There’s a medal here with his name on for valiant effort.
@Deborah Behan: what about did they get the cyclist
@Paul Coughlan: Yes he got the cyclist, you can see the damage to the bicycle from the maniac van driver, did you not look at the article and just came straight to the comments?
The car mounted the footpath. Froome lucky to have escaped injury. Many road users don’t know the rules of the road either ie jumping at Amber lights dangerous overtaking failure to use indicators weaving in traffic. The list goes on for every kind of road user
Sabotage??
@Lad: are you looking at Dougal
@Lad: Rumour has it that it was a Trek van driven by Alberto Contador! ;)
“Pinarello Dogma F8″ can’t be that good,never heard of it!
@Jimmy Ireland: Your English teacher is crying now.
Did they find a motor inside the frame?