Morocco looking to exceed expectations again in 'special' France clash

07.08.2023 - 08:25 channelnewsasia.com

ADELAIDE : Morocco's clash with favourites France in the Women's World Cup on Tuesday will be a special occasion for their players and coach Reynald Pedros as the tournament debutantes aim to continue their fairytale run by reaching the quarter-finals.In one of the most unexpected outcomes of an already unpredictable group stage, Morocco reached the knockouts as runners-up to Colombia in Group H after beating the South Americans 1-0 while second-ranked Germany failed to advance.Pedros, 51, is a former France international and said he was looking forward to taking on the country of his birth when the two teams face off in the last 16 in Adelaide."I am French but my heart is with Morocco," Pedros told reporters on Monday. "It's been three years since we've been working hard to get to these incredible objectives ...

It's not a problem for me to win against France."I will do everything for us to qualify for the quarter-finals."Pedros won consecutive Champions League titles as manager of Olympique Lyonnais in 2019 and 2020.

Six members of France's World Cup squad played under him at Lyon, including captain Wendie Renard and all-time top scorer Eugenie Le Sommer."A few of us are bi-national and some of us play in France, so we know the players well," said defender Nesryne El Chad, one of six players in the Morocco squad plying their trade in France. "This match will be special for us."Morocco, the first Arab nation to compete at the tournament, were thrashed 6-0 by Germany in the opener but 1-0 upsets of higher-ranked South Korea and Colombia propelled them into the last 16.Pedros said after the Colombia game that he had the advantage of knowing the France team "perfectly".

Football country stage UPS Wendie Renard Eugenie Le-Sommer France Germany Colombia Usa Morocco South Korea Chad

SYDNEY : France will look to take advantage of the pressure on Women's World Cup co-hosts Australia as home expectations soar before Saturday's quarter-final showdown in Brisbane, while European champions England take on Colombia in Sydney.

Mentality to decide France vs. Australia quarterfinal clash - ESPN

ADELAIDE, Australia — All tournament long, this was the game France had been waiting for.

France brace for fired-up Brisbane crowd in Australia clash

BRISBANE : France are aware of the pressure that a revived Australia side will be under as host nation in their Women's World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, and expect a tough test in front of a packed and partisan crowd at Lang Park.

France ease past Morocco to set up Australia World Cup clash

ADELAIDE: Eugenie Le Sommer scored twice as France eased to a 4-0 win over Morocco at the Women's World Cup on Tuesday (Aug 8) and set up a quarter-final with co-hosts Australia.

FIFA Women's World Cup: Rampant France Set Up Australia Clash, Colombia Also Into Last Eight

France issued a Women's World Cup warning on Tuesday to set up a tasty quarter-final clash against Australia, with Colombia joining them in the last eight and facing England. A rampant France scored three times in eight minutes in a first-half blitz as they won 4-0 to bring Morocco's fairytale run to a brutal end. Veteran striker Eugenie Le Sommer scored twice, once in each half, and Kadidiatou Diani and Kenza Dali were also on the scoresheet in Adelaide. Herve Renard's side will now play co-hosts Australia in Brisbane on Saturday, with the winners of that going on to play either England or Colombia in the semi-finals.

France coach Renard says pressure will be on Australia in quarter-finals

ADELAIDE : France's run at the Women's World Cup is about to get a lot tougher with a quarter-final clash against Australia on Saturday, but Les Bleues coach Herve Renard understands the pressure that comes with being a host nation in a knockout game.