Defeated (2-0) by Japan this Tuesday, 18 October, the France U18 Women’s Team were eliminated from the World Cup hosted in India.

There is no magic to the U18 Women’s selection. After the first draw against Canada (1-1) and a shock defeat against Tanzania (2-1), the Bleuettes had no choice but to beat Japan – winners of their first two matches – this Tuesday at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa (India) to hope to get out of their group. Despite having a big chance, Japan won (2-0) and ended the French dream.

GAME

The start of the game was advantaged by the Japanese players who had the ball and touched straights by Ai Tsujisawa (8th). Habs held out until the half hour mark: found twenty-five yards out by Mio Takaoka, Momoko Tanikawa fired a low left-footed cross that ended in Belhadj’s small net (1-0, 29).

Back against the wall, the Bleuettes rebelled and came very close to equalizing, first on the overflow Fiona Liaigre on the right flank whose effort was denied by Toko Koga (36th) before getting a double chance to Lucie Calba and Fanny Rossi who stumbled each on goalkeeper Uruha Iwasaki then on Kokoro Yoshioka (40th).

Enterprising French, realistic Japan

If opportunities are rare when returning from the dressing room, if not an attempt to Shana Chosnotte against (48), Japan are very close to making a break at the hour mark but Ferine Belhadjo won a face-to-face with Moka Hiwatari (61).

It was enough to wake the French women: Lola Boisset seeing his long free kick hit the ground (66th) earlier, on a one-touch pass from Calba, Chossenotte tried his luck at the entrance of the area and propelled Iwasaki into the parade (68th).

But by trying everything for the whole, Cécile Locatelli’s players exposed themselves dangerously and if Belhadj and Tara Elimbi salvaging their two goals, they finally succumbed to stoppage time when Sayami Kusunoki headed home a powerful header from a corner (2-0, 90+2).