For this second day at the Istria Cup, the affair seemed a bad start for the France B team, who put the ingredients in the second half to secure the victory. A victory that did not seem acquired but how important for the mental of the players of Jean-François Niemezcki. In the other meetings Northern Ireland crushed Taipei. While Slovakia narrowly won against Slovenia and Bosnia confirmed against Hungary, next opponent of the Blue.


Results of the matches of March 1st
AT
Slovakia vs Northern Ireland 0-0
B
France B vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-2
AT
Chinese Taipei vs Slovenia 1-5
B
Hungary vs Croatia 0-3


France B with a bad face

From the start of the match France is struggling to advance and put his game in place, against a Croatian team victorious against Hungary 3-0 on Wednesday. A psychological ascendancy that will probably play in the first period.
Croatia tries to take France back but the Parisian Hawa Cissoko covers his opponent well by his physique, beyond his speed.
The France team is desperately short of tactics and construction in its game, which makes the game very difficult to play and unattractive.
Opposite is a Croatian team in motion and on the lookout. A fact that will somewhat disturb, not to say annoy the coach of the Blue, who is quick to ask these players "must be serious a little". Throughout the first minutes of play, the match is jerky between tension and false rhythm, which suggests a dead end. It will be necessary to wait for the 40th minute, to see a Blue action, a Cissoko header in the penalty area blocked by the Croatian defense. Then it is the Stephanoise, Rose Lavaud who will bring the danger against Croatia, only two minutes after this first occasion. The opportunity blocked by the keeper of Lavaud (42 ') blocked, the ball comes back on Thomas who stumbles on a Croatian defender. The French team lacks a gap in their game to meet their goal need, virgin when they entered the Istria Cup. Then in the 44th is still Lavaud, on the right side will take charge of creating the animation, the center right flank player for Le Bihan, the ball is captured by the Croatian goalkeeper, Doric Bacic. And just before the whistle, Marion Torrent tries a direct free kick, which landed quietly in Bacic's gloves. Before the break is whistled, Marion Romanelli enters the place of Charlotte Lorgere, apparently injured, following knee to knee contact with a Croatian ... The last opportunity will still be on the Tricolore side, signed Clarisse Le Bihan, a shot at close range. The Montpellier recovers the ball between two Croatians on a pass, at the entrance to the surface, but his shot is countered by the caretaker and stoic.
A lot of frustration in this first half. France dominated its subject by counting several opportunities but which were not concluded for lack of realism. A fact that can probably be explained by the lack of cohesion of the midfield, with the lateral, and the attack that struggles to make himself available.

France has found the solution on changes

In second half Croatia plays higher, raised his block as to press France. But it's a tactic that will defeat Croatians.

The Tricolores do not necessarily have the habit of playing together and they may not have had enough time to prepare together for this deadline. To try to change the situation and avoid repeating the scenario or even a draw, Lea Le Garrec (50 '), uses as she knows so well with his powerful shot and his precision to try. A shot shot, powerfully played, but which will ultimately be countered by Bacic. If in attack France B has a hard time getting rid of, the defense organized by Charlotte Bilbaut moves in central defender as with Juvisy against Lyon, responds present. The first dangerous action for Croatia will also happen at this time. On a corner easily captured by Romane Munich (62 '). France B (63 ') has very quickly after that shot in the head, again a golden opportunity, missed because of a compact Croatian defense. Even the free kick of Bilbaut (65 ') will be opposed by the defense. Neither Marion Romanelli's right-wing breakthroughs (66 ') will succeed. A player who knew how to play well at the World Cup, but who did not start at the start, leaving her position to Héloise Mansuy. But the messina had to leave its place in Montpellier just before France / Germany.Niemezcki (68 ') knows then that it is time to change things, he then leaves Lavaud and Thomas for Morroni and Diallo. A fact that will not necessarily change the facts on the field but in the heads of the players, both French and Croatian.

The rescue will come from Marion Torrent (65 '), on a corner cleared first by the Croatian defense, before the ball returns to the entrance to the surface. Torrent in motion, takes the ball from a ground recovery, which will lob the keeper! A high class goal for the MHSC defender 1-0.

The second goal will follow just as quickly, it is Clarisse Le Bihan who is at the maneuver on a free kick. Almost well shot, his powerful ball ends on the right post of Bacic, but Aminata Diallo was attentive as Marion Torrent, but it is the Parisian who will have the opportunity to send it to the bottom, located at the right post. Les Bleues have unlocked the situation and lead 2-0!

Croatia is playing higher, which has allowed the Blues to develop their game more easily. But nothing is played yet ... "to the end," says Niemezcki. Laura Bourguoin (83 ') then makes way for Ouleye Sarr, which marks the coach's willingness to push the point, replacing his midfield by an attacker. The Blues play more liberated, without rejoicing to score and continue to advance. As with this shot free kick right side of Torrent (85 ') caught by the goalkeeper before Sarr can put the head. Then it's again Le Garrec (86 ') who speaks on a big hit full axis. Gauvin and Pingeon (88 ') replace Le Bihan and Greboval, who has once again been busy with the task, however, more difficult to be decisive for his team. Ouleye Sarr puts a lot of movement into attack, to maintain the pressure on the Croatian side and totally destabilize the local team. The poster is really physical between the two teams, who often go in with this 3rd injured side Croatian this time serious but the player gets up. Just like Lorgeré or Le Garrec just before on shocks. A few minutes from the end of the match, it is the striker Marion Torrent who will again make up for trying to break with the third goal. The Habs center at the end of the right corner, but his ball will be captured by the goalkeeper at the entrance to his goal, before a Blue can cut the trajectory. Too close to the goal.


Having passed the second speed in the 50th minute of play, while facing an upsurge in animation and high Croatian game, France is recovering, and changes will induce an awareness among the Blue who will succeed to open the brand twice. The Blues are in the second half and win 2-0. A sluggish but important victory for the morale of the Blue, who will face Hungary B next Monday for their last game of the group, before the final standings.

Composition France: Munich - Lorgere, Greboval, Cissoko, Bourgouin, Bilbault - Torrent, The Garrec - Lavaud, Thomas, Le Bihan

Croatia: Doric Bacic - Martina Cop - Carina Roscic - Kristina Nevrkla - Mihaela Horvat - Maja Joscak - Matea Bosnjak - Iva Landeka (Captain) - Ivana Bojcic - Sandra Zigic - Ivana Rudelic

The goals:

Torrent 65 ', Diallo 68'



March 3rd Match Results
Group A
Slovenia 1-2 Slovakia
Northern Ireland 8-0 Taipei

Group B
Croatia 0-2 France B
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 Hungary B


Photo: Soccer Network, LLC