In the quarterfinals, the Bleuettes faced a formidable opponent, who was none other than North Korea, title holder and falling of France in 2016. A little air of revenge for the French who have not missed the appointment with a penalty converted by Amélie Delabre in the first half and an exceptional job of the whole team, which did not let go until the final whistle (1-0). The summary of this hectic quarterfinal.

 

For this decisive match against North Korea, Gilles Eyquem has turned his squad as he had expressed it yesterday in a press conference, aligning Amélie Delabre all the same at the forefront of his team, well accompanied by Baltimore and Malard on the sides, and supplemented by Annahita, Gavory and Daoudi in the middle, in a rotating triangle. While Selma Bacha was again titularized, her fourth as such, while Elisa De Almeida was replaced in the starting lineup.

 

Maintain the pressing

We knew that North Korea was not going to be an easy team to play for the Bleuettes with this antecedent of the final lost in 2016, but also on the kicks set by the Koreans, which could be dangerous in many respects. Quickly despite these small fears, the Bleuettes set foot on the ball and win physically, the fall of the ball and even to recover if they lose. Melvine Malard again established by Gilles Eyquem will once again lead the way, with good work and center left flank for Baltimore, who puts a good center in the penalty area, but it is cleared by a Korean.

Although they lack a bit of control in their game, the Bleuettes put a lot of pressure on the Koreans to take the lead, sit down on their dominance of the game and put the intensity in attack to try to open quickly the mark. As on this long ball Selma Bacha (10th) since the midfield for Melvine Malard and Amelie Delabre, both present in the Korean penalty area to put the head, but it is finally rejected by Kuk Hyang An.

The Bleuettes make the North Koreans run, but struggle to find the solution in front of a compact defense and players very focused on the defense. Les Bleuettes then know that they have to go another way. Just like this distant shot by Christy Gavory (13th), who passes close to the crossroads of North Korea. Then it's a free kick from Selma Bacha (15th) that will give cold sweats to Koreans. But Pom Hyang Ri wins against the French and leaves the ball for a corner. Then this is another opportunity for France, on a corner hit by Annahita Zamanian (18th), which comes to put the danger on the side of Korea, but Ryong My Ryang comes to intervene and repels the danger.

 

Delabre for deliverance

France is just after that, a little fright, with this attempt full axis well annihilated by Julie Thibaud (27th), without flinching. The Koreans are pale and now know that the game will not be easy to win. Just after that, Sandy Baltimore will take her lane and a hook enter at the end of the penalty area to center a ball, but it's deflected by hand by Pom Hyang Ri (27th). The referee whistles the penalty. Unsurprisingly it is the neo-Messina, Amélie Delabre who advances and comes to change without hesitation on his shot, as against the Netherlands 1-0.

The Bleuettes must follow. Like Sandy Baltimore who does not stop there and continues his big work on the left corridor with this center in the 34th minute, pushed back by Ok Choe in a face to face with Melvine Malard. It follows a dangerous free kick for Korea, but the head of Un Sim Pang (39th) is not framed. The Bleuettes react with this opportunity, well led by Baltimore (43), who gives Annahita full axis, but the ball is too short for the player of Goteborg. Delabre is right behind to try to recover it, unfortunately it is repulsed by a North Korean before. The pressure is rising in the last minutes of this first half. As on this ball poorly cleared by the French defense, which returns to Kyong Hui Ko, but Sana Daoudi (45th) is in the dry cleaning to ward off the danger. A last French opportunity to close this half-time, with the Baltimore law center (45th) for Christy Gavory, but the recovery of the Messina is not enough support to worry the guardian, Yong Sun Kim. Even failed attempts are important for losing control and mind to opponents like North Korea.

A difficult first half physically and mentally, but we know that the hardest remains to be done now for the Bleuettes in the second half, since the North Koreans will want to pick up the score and pace of the French.

The Koreans are trying to replicate

It will not be missed. At the resumption of the match, the French know they must give even more and not relax their efforts, to avoid some disappointment they are, see the equalizer. Like Selma Bacha (45th) who gives himself again on this match, and comes to push back this good center of Kum Ok Choe for Sum Im Son. Les Bleuettes know they have to show resistance at this moment of the match. But the North Koreans will give a hard time in this second part. For Korea tries to react with Kum Ok Choe, who center left flank for Kyong Yong Kim at the far post. The North Korean head of one of his teammates at the penalty box, but it is rejected by Julie Thibaud (49th).

Just before the hour of the game, North Korea had a golden opportunity - on a bad clearance French, Korea gets the ball - but the shot Ok Choe (58th) is not at all framed! The pressure falls a little for a few minutes, before getting tough in the 67th minute, on a discount from Selma Bacha to Elisa De Almeida, but the pass is not enough support and a Korean comes charging to grab the ball in front of the Parisienne, who had almost been taken by surprise, but she catches up and manages to remove the danger.

The opportunities will be chained to one side then the other. With this action already French, on a one-two between Gavory and Katoto (68th) and the center low of the Parisienne before the exit corner. But Annahita Zamanian's shot is just blocked by a Korean, defenseman Pom Hyang Ri in front of his cage. The second goal was not far off and Korea can still believe in the equalizer after this good rescue. Like the dangerous free kick, well struck and deflected by Kim Ok Choe, but who will not take Mylène Chavas (75) in default, the French goalkeeper easily captures the ball in the air. The pressure returns to the Tricolores who do not get carried away and keep their concentration and determination in this meeting. A fact that played against the previous generation, except fatigue accumulated in 2016. A point that was precisely adjusted by the players of Gilles Eyquem, in this world against this North Korea, which remains just as difficult to analyze.

 

Cling to the pressure

The danger continues to hit the door of the Bleuettes, as on this free kick Kuk Hyang An (77), repulsed with strength by Marie-Antoinette Katoto in front of her teammates. France takes advantage of this moment of hesitation among the North Koreans, who fail to find the flaw, to try a counterattack, with the ball pushed by Sana Daoudi ahead and recovered by Sandy Baltimore for Annahita Zamanian full axis. The latter is stopped a few meters from the penalty area by Pom Hyang Ri, but the ball returns to the feet of Emelyne Laurent (78th) and his center for Baltimore is perfect, but the recovery of the right foot of the foot of the Parisienne is not framed.

North Koreans will have the last ten minutes on their own with three chances in quick succession. In the 83rd minute on the center that has just been pushed back, solid, by the captain of the meeting on the French side, Julie Thibaud. Then it is the saving intervention of Elisa De Almeida (88th) on this incursion of Kyong Yong Kim on a long balloon of a teammate in the box, which saves the Bleuettes. De Almeida intervenes and cuts the trajectory of the ball before any attempt by the Korean at the far post and alone against Chavas. The equalizer was not far and the Parisienne was certainly the heroine of his team on this one and only big North Korean opportunity of the match. Just before the end of the match, it is a last Korean corner taken from the head by Kum Hyang Ri, who will give these last cold sweats to Mylène Chavas (89th). But the door of Dijon FCO has followed the trajectory, to take the ball and allow his team to breathe, before the referee whistles the end of the match a few minutes after that, for the delivery.

 

Les Bleuettes knew what to expect, prepared for it and assured their meeting with a master's hand. Difficult to see the negative in this game, as the players have given of itself, even if there were no more goals than penalty. Les Bleuettes will now enjoy their deserved qualification in the semifinals, before projecting on their next opponent and not least, Spain.

 

Photo: Brittany Football League

Match preview - U20 World Cup - Quarter-final

FRANCE - NORTH KOREA: 1-0 (1-0)

Thursday, August 16, 2018, 7:30 pm, Concarneau (Stade Guy-Piriou)

Spectators: 2,462

Referees: Carol Anne Chenard (Canada) assisted by Kathryn Nesbitt (United States) and Chantal Bourdeau (Canada)

; 4th referee: Melissa Borjas (Honduras)

Goals: Amélie Delabre (29th, AP)

Warnings: Maëlle Lakrar 78 'for France and Ja Un-Yong 71' for North Korea

XI of departure France: 1-Mylène Chavas; 2-Elisa De Almeida, 4-Julie Thibaud (c), 13-Maëlle Lakrar, 3-Selma Bacha; 6-Sana Daoudi; 11-Melvine Malard (7-Emelyne Lawrence 75), 15-Christy Gavory (17-Carla Polito 81), 10-Annahita Zamanian, 20-Sandy Baltimore; 19-Amelie Delabre (9-Marie-Antoinette Katoto 58th).

Coach: Gilles Eyquem

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