France misses New Zealand by one point in the World Cup semi-finals

Match: 24-25

France came close to a stunning feat on Saturday at Eden Park, in the World Cup semi-finals. But the Blues were unable to make the move, as they stumbled over New Zealand for a small point causing them to grieve. However, it was the French who provided the beginning of the meeting of heroes.

During the applied start of the match, they imposed the lock thanks to the strength of Roman Menager (23rd place). More visible and dynamic, the three-color attackers bypass the game in the black fern axis, and are usually very effective. And if the New Zealanders were able to return to the game thanks to their transmission quality, symbolized by the test at the end of the line from Flühler (35), it was they who returned to the locker room with a delay in the display of the scoreboard, Gabriel Vernier scores in the goal on Jung, Following the one-pass sequence model (40, 17-10).

Then the dynamic was reversed. The defensive tricolor climb became less aggressive, and the New Zealanders took advantage of it. Ruby Toei concluded his first major move. Then Theresa Fitzpatrick once again split the French barrier. Led by eight points (63th place, 17-25), the French women seemed to miss their chance.

It was without relying on an angry attack from Menger who finished for the second time of the evening in goal (65). Exhausted from the Hab, she cast her last strength to fill in the missing spot. One minute after the siren went off, Caroline Drouin had the opportunity to send her team to the final with a penalty kick of 35m a little further from the center. But the ball never took the happy path.

Player: Werner try everything

Amid three quarters at Les Bleues he had an exceptional performance against New Zealand. Recognized for her fierce defense, she lived up to her reputation. It was his handling of Robbie Toei early in the match, and his penalty kick even if the winger fell on his back, that set the tone for the match. Very aggressive, it was largely involved in bypassing New Zealand attacks in the first period.

By making a couple of scratches, Gabriel Werner also introduced some atmosphere to the Blues. Finally, her inner run left the opposing defenders no chance to stop her from scoring an important attempt right before the break.