MADRID, 8 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The teams of France and Colombia completed the eight quarterfinalists of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, after easily beating Morocco (4-0) and beating Jamaica (1-0), respectively.
The team coached by Hervé Renard gave the North Africans no chance and made good the favoritism that gave them fifth position in the FIFA ranking. The weak Moroccan defense only lasted fifteen minutes without conceding a goal, until a precise cross from the left of full-back Sakina Karchaoui put Kadidiatou Diani on a tray.
The goal was an incentive for the Europeans, who did not take long to score the second through Kenza Dali and the third, by Eugenie Le Sommer, leaving the match sentenced in less than 30 minutes. With the advantage, France focused more on controlling the ball and letting the minutes pass.
In the second half, Reynald Pedros’ team took advantage of the French relaxation and improved, even disturbing Pauline Peyraud-Magnin’s goal, but the lack of success prevented him from scoring the goal of honour. Who did manage to pierce the net for the second time was Le Sommer, scoring his fourth and final goal.
With this result, France qualifies for the quarterfinals for the fourth time in its history and will fight next Saturday with the hosts Australia for access to the penultimate phase, a round that they already stepped on in the World Cup in Germany in 2011.
COLOMBIA BEATS JAMAICA AND KEEPS DREAMING
For their part, Colombia and Jamaica faced their duel with a very even prognosis that was maintained because neither of them wanted to risk too much, although it was the South American team that carried the weight of the game from the beginning. Jamaican goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer had to intervene on several occasions, in which she showed the same confidence as the rest of the tournament, in which she had not conceded any goals.
After the controlled first part, in the second the talent of the Colombians with the Real Madrid player, Linda Caicedo, and Catalina Usme having much more prominence, the game broke up. After five minutes, Usme managed to open the scoring with a great goal, forcing the Caribbean team to seek an equalizer.
Despite the fact that Lorne Donaldson’s players went on the attack, the ‘cafeteras’ held up well, to maintain the advantage and qualify for the first time in their history to the quarterfinals, also being the second team in South America to do so after Brazil . England will be their obstacle to be in the semifinals.