In July, France played three tune-up friendlies, all at home: a 6:0 win against Romania on July 4th, a 3:0 victory over Russia on July 11th, and a 2:0 win versus Japan on July 19th. This post is primarily a quick review of those three matches, along with a summary table of minutes played, and thoughts on France’s likely starting line-up in their opening match against the United States.
France’s group match versus the United States will kick-off on July 25th at noon Eastern. That match can be seen live on NBC Sports Network.
* * *
FRANCE’S TUNE-UP MATCHES
July 4th: FRANCE 6, Romania 0.
Goals: Thomis (22′), Le Sommer (29′, 41′), Necib (33′), Franco (62′), Catala (68′).
FFF.fr film du match, FFF.fr highlight video.
Starting Line-Up: Bouhaddi; Franco, Renard, Meilleroux (capt.), Bompastor; Bussaglia, Abily; Thomis, Necib, Thiney; Le Sommer.
Remarks: This is the only match of the three that Le Sommer started up top.
July 11th: FRANCE 3, Russia 0.
Goals: Thiney (11′), Delie (22′, 41′).
FFF.fr film du match, FFF.fr highlight video.
Starting Line-Up: Bouhaddi; Franco, Georges, Renard, Bompastor; Bussaglia, Abily; Le Sommer, Necib, Thiney (capt.); Delie.
July 19th: FRANCE 2, Japan 0.
Goals: Delie (24′), Renard (73′).
FFF.fr film du match, FFF.fr highlight video.
Starting Line-Up: Bouhaddi; Franco, Renard, Meilleroux (capt.), Bompastor; Bussaglia, Abily; Thomis, Necib, Thiney; Delie.
Remarks: The second goal was via a corner kick header.
* * *
ROSTER NOTES
Veteran captain Sandrine Soubeyrand has not played in any tune-up matches due to a thigh issue and will likely miss the USA-France match. Soubeyrand “souffre d’une contracture à une cuisse” (football.fr), which translates to “suffered a contracture in a thigh.” (Though, contracture can also be translated as “spasm,” but “spasm” specifically in French is spasme.) A contracture is when a muscle tightens up permanently, thus limiting the range of motion. This more recent football.fr article (19-July) indicates that Soubeyrand is still questionable for the USA-France match.
Table: France’s Olympic Roster, Playing Time In Recent Matches
PLAYER S# P. ROU RUS JPN Total --- Goalkeepers ---------------------------------------- Bouhaddi, Sarah 18 GK 45 90 90 225 Deville, Celine 1 GK 45 0 0 45 --- Defenders ------------------------------------------ Bompastor, Sonia 8 DF 61 45 90 196 Franco, Corine 7 DF 64 63 90 217 Georges, Laura 4 DF 45 77 25 147 Meilleroux, Ophelie 5 DF 45 45 65 155 Renard, Wendie 2 DF 75 90 90 255 Viguier, Sabrina 16 DF 15 27 0 42 --- Midfielders ---------------------------------------- Abily, Camille 10 MF 45 90 89 224 Boulleau, Laure 3 MF 29 45 1 75 Bussaglia, Elise 15 MF 90 45 90 225 Catala, Camille 13 MF 26 45 5 76 Necib, Louisa 14 MF 90 45 85 220 Soubeyrand, Sandrine 6 MF 0 0 0 0 --- Forwards ------------------------------------------- Delie, Marie-Laure 11 FW 45 90 52 187 Le Sommer, Eugenie 9 FW 45 63 38 146 Thiney, Gaetane 17 FW 90 45 90 225 Thomis, Elodie 12 FW 90 45 90 225 --- Alternates ----------------------------------------- Gadea, Kelly 19 DF 0 13 0 13 Soyer, Julie 20 DF 45 0 0 45 Makanza, Marina 21 FW 0 27 0 27 Philippe, Laetitia 22 GK 0 0 0 0
* * *
LOOKING AHEAD TO USA-FRANCE: THE LIKELY STARTING LINE-UP
As far as whom Bruno Bini will start next Wednesday, the least settled positions are at centerback, on the wings, and up top.
For the central defense, Wendie Renard seems to be a likely starter, withe either Opehlie Meilleroux or Laura Georges joining her. Meilleroux seems a slightly more likely choice, given that she started the match, and has twice worn the captain’s armband during France’s tune-up matches. (In last year’s Women’s World Cup semifinal, both Meilleroux and Georges started, while Renard went unused as a substitute.)
Up top, the starting center forward position will probably be given to Marie-Laurie Delie, although Eugenie Le Sommer may possibly start in Delie’s place. Le Sommer could also start out on the right wing, but Elodie Thomis seems more likely for that spot. Out on the left wing, Gaetane Thiney has that starting position basically locked up.
However, if veteran captain Sandrine Soubeyrand is healthy and Bini starts her, then he could move Abily to the right wing, which is where Abily was used during most of the 2011 Women’s World Cup.
The other more settled positions are goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi, who returned from Bini’s wilderness after the last Women’s World Cup; right fullback Corine Franco, who replaces the injured Laura LePailleur; holding midfielder Elise Bussaglia; and playmaking midfielder Louisa Necib.
The likely line-up (4-2-3-1):
Bouhaddi (GK)
Franco (RB) — Renard (CB) — Meilleroux (CB) — Bompastor (LB)
Abily (CM) — Bussaglia (HM)
Thomis (RM) — Necib (AM) — Thiney (LM)
Delie (FW)
Comparatively, the line-up from the Women’s World Cup semifinal:
Sapowicz (GK)
LePailleur (RB) — Georges (CB) — Meilleroux (CB) — Bompastor (LB)
Soubeyrand (HM) — Bussaglia (HM)
Abily (RM) — Necib (AM) — Thiney (LM)
Delie (FW)
LePailleur (injury) and Sapowicz (retired from international soccer) are not on the Olympic roster.
Women's Soccer Express 