The step was too high

For their last outing of the year 2024, Les Bleues lost to Spain on Tuesday evening at the Allianz Riviera in Nice (2-4).

Three days after its victory against Nigeria in Angers (2-1), the French women's team was beaten in a friendly by the reigning world champions, fourth in the last Paris 2024 Olympic Games, this Tuesday, December 3 in Nice (2-4).

Trailing 0-1 from the 6th minute (Bonmati) then 0-2 shortly (Pina, 22nd), the Blues were punished for their high pressing and their defensive errors by the realism of the Spaniards who rushed into the spaces. They then displayed a conquering state of mind to return to 1-2 before half-time (own goal from Maria Mendez, 37th) then to 2-3 in the second half (Diani, 71st) but a penalty transformed by Mariona Caldentey (81st) extinguished French hopes of snatching an equalizer.

La Roja's opener by Aitana Bonmati (photo Hugo PFEIFFER / ICON SPORT).

Under the gaze of Philippe Diallo, the president of the FFF, Jean-Michel Aulas, deputy vice-president of the FFF, and Guy Stéphan, the assistant to the Blues coach Didier Deschamps, the Tricolores conceded their seventh setback of the year 2024, the second under the Laurent Bonadei era.

Next meeting on their calendar? The draw for the final phase of Women's Euro 2025 (from July 2 to 27 in Switzerland) which will take place on Monday December 16 and will determine their opponents in the first round. To prepare for this deadline, they will measure themselves in the Nations League from next February.

THE GOALS

– 0-1, Aitana Bonmati (6th, pass from Mariona Caldentey). Found on the left side by Claudia Pina, Mariona Caldentey overflows and sends a strong cross into the area. The double Ballon d'Or bursts out to cut the trajectory and deceive Constance Picaud from the right at close range.

Photo Pascal DELLA ZUANA / ICON SPORT

– 0-2, Claudia Pina (22nd, pass from Mariona Caldentey). On a long headed ball, Mariona Caldentey is served in the French camp. She advances along the axis and shifts Claudia Pina to her left. She hooks and doubles the lead with a shot from outside the area.

– 1-2, Maria Mendez (37th, own goal). Kenza Dali turns the game towards Vicki Becho. The Lyonnaise strikes on her right side then sends a tight cross. Maria Mendez misses her clearance and, with her right knee, sends the ball into her own net.

– 1-3, Lucia Garcia Cordoba (60e, pass d'Ona Battle). On the right side, Ona Battle is served in depth. She shifts Garcia full axis into the area who concludes from the right.

– 2-3, Kadidiatou Diani (71e). Kenza Dali serves on the right side of the area Melvine Malard whose center, diverted by a Spaniard, is taken from the chest by Kadidiatou Diani to reduce the score.

Photo Hugo PFEIFFER / ICON SPORT

– 2-4, Mariona Caldentey (81e sp). After a foul punishing a hand fault by Kenza Dali, Mariona Caldentey comes forward to take the penalty. She deceives Constance Picaud, who started on the right side, with a strong right shot.

REACTIONS

Laurent Bonadei (coach, at the microphone of France 4): “We conceded four goals, it’s still important. So we will have to improve the defensive aspect. We decided to take risks, to press high, obviously that left some spaces. Unfortunately, the match scenario was not in our favor. We come back to 3-2, they made a lot of effort, we have this penalty. We had this ball to come back to 4-3 by Kadidiatou Diani. We lacked a little efficiency offensively on the few opportunities we had. But in their state of mind, the players gave everything until the end. Matches like these are benchmark matches against high-level teams. I decided to persist and insist on this system of a three-way defense, to see how far we could go. It will be time to take stock of what we have done over these last four matches, to take stock, to see what system we will adopt for the restart. The results of these two matches are mixed, as in the first stage. When you end up with a defeat, it's always a little frustrating. We must recognize that the Spanish team is a great team, they did not steal their victory. I saw very committed, invested players, with a lot of values ​​on the state of mind and group cohesion, this was one of the areas of work on these two courses. From that point of view, I am satisfied. Now, from a tactical point of view, we will have to improve further. »

Photo Pascal DELLA ZUANA / ICON SPORT

Wendie Renard (defender and captain, on France 4 microphone): “The Spanish were very efficient in the first half, they had very few situations, from their first action they managed to score us this first goal, then this second. Afterwards, we reacted quite well, we managed to score a goal and even make them doubt, I think. We are moving forward, we are gaining ground, everything is not perfect, but in any case we have this desire to be more aggressive, to tighten the lines a little. It was too easy for them in the first half. When you leave players of this individual technical quality… They were ultra-effective and we continue to work for the future. When you are in a three-way defensive system, you have to maintain rigor, discipline and above all you have to be very aggressive. In these matches, we have to learn, it's always the same words that come back but it's the truth. You simply have to keep working. »

Photo Pascal DELLA ZUANA / ICON SPORT

STATISTICS

► 520th match in history des Bleues (record: 306 wins, 92 draws, 122 defeats, 1,125 bp, 502 bc).
► 4th meeting for Laurent Bonadei at the head of Féminines A since his appointment on August 23, 2024. Results: 2 victories, 2 defeats
► 16th match of the year 2024 for the French women's team. Results: 9 victories, 7 defeats (24 bp, 23 bc).
► 15e confrontation between France and Spain, since the first in December 1983. Results: 10 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats.
► 167th appearance for Wendie Renard (39 goals), 6th most capped player. The 5th, Camille Abily, has 183.
► 29e but for Kadidiatou Diani, the evening of her 109th selection.