French coach Hervé Renard has lured the Matildas forward of their quarter-final showdown by declaring that Les Bleues striker Eugénie Le Sommer is healthier than Australian captain Sam Kerr.
The French coach introduced Le Somme again into the worldwide squad after two years within the wilderness and issued the daring assertion in a bid to sack his aspect forward of their conflict with the Matildas in Brisbane on Saturday.
He believes they want it, regardless of their spectacular 4-0 thrashing of Morocco within the final sport.
Because in a pleasant match simply earlier than the World Cup, Les Bleues misplaced 1-0 to Australia and as Renard mentioned at a press convention yesterday: ‘We’re not simply taking part in in opposition to the nationwide staff, we’re taking over the entire nation. ‘
That much is true with a record attendance of over 75,000 at two matches for Australia’s video games thus far at this WWC and document TV viewership, underlining the curiosity within the Matildas as effectively.
But his declare that Le Sommer, at 34, is healthier than Kerr will not be true.
French coach Herve Renard mentioned throughout yesterday’s press convention about his celebrity striker Eugenie Le Sommer (each pictured) that he wouldn’t commerce her for an Aussie striker
Le Sommer is an incredible finisher and it takes every kind of play to cease her when she’s round
However, Matilda Sam Kerr continues to be acknowledged by Aussie followers as the perfect feminine soccer participant on the earth
“There is no one like her in the penalty area,” Renard mentioned of 34-year-old striker Le Sommer.
“I’ve seen some male players who were incredible in the penalty area, but she has more incredible quality.
“She’s like a surgeon in the penalty area… I wouldn’t trade my striker for the other team’s.”
In comparability, Le Sommer began her profession in 2007 and made her worldwide debut in 2009 in opposition to Northern Ireland.
She has scored extra objectives for France than any participant, male or feminine. This consists of legends resembling Thierry Henry (51) and Olivier Giroud (54).
Le Sommer scored 92 objectives behind the web from 183 matches.
She has but to win a world trophy, however has received 10 Division 1 titles with Lyon, eight UEFA Women’s Championships and eight Coupe de France Féminine titles.
Born in Western Australia, Kerr is 5 years youthful than Le Sommer and has already scored 32 objectives for Australia from 60 video games performed.
At that success charge, if hypothetically rounded to the identical variety of video games Le Sommer has performed in 183 video games, Kerr would have scored 97 objectives – 5 greater than her French rival.
Kerr has began eleven occasions in World Cup matches and scored 5 objectives.
Le Sommer began 14 occasions for France at World Cups, scoring eight objectives.
In the previous 12 months, Le Sommer made 17 appearances for her membership Lyon, scoring seven objectives.
Kerr made 21 appearances for her membership Chelsea, scoring 12 objectives.
Both have 5 assists to their credit score in that point.
Aussie coach Tony Gustavsson mentioned clearly and emphatically that if Sam Kerr is match sufficient to play 90 minutes, she would play them – ‘This is Sam Kerr we’re speaking about.’
Kerr made a stable twelfth minute cameo in opposition to Denmark and had one highly effective shot on purpose
So, on all out there stats, whereas Le Sommer is phenomenal, Kerr’s stats are higher.
What is in favor of the French women is that Kerr has solely performed 12 minutes of this World Cup whereas taking part in 4 full video games.
Renard has had a colourful profession as a coach. After bringing Saudi Arabia into the boys’s World Cup and hatching a plan to beat Argentina in a massively disrupted first sport.
His unbelievable studying of how rival staff Les Bleue’s play will serve them effectively in opposition to Australia.
“Of course the characteristics of the attackers will be different, but Australia like to wait for their opponent, they like quick transitions and getting behind the defence, and they have some very good players to use this system,” he mentioned.
“I’m with one of the best football teams in the world so I want them to have more confidence in themselves… respect all their opponents but don’t be afraid of anyone because they have the quality to have a fantastic tournament.
“I’m sure they realize now how well they can do it.”
Ranked fifth on the earth, France is determined to go no less than one step additional than on the 2019 World Cup, when Les Bleue have been knocked out as hosts within the quarter-finals by eventual champions USA.
Le Sommer, a teammate of Matildas right-back Ellie Carpenter at French membership Lyon, has already scored three objectives within the match, together with a brace in France’s 4-0 spherical of 16 thrashing in opposition to Morocco.
We know Le Sommer will play, however when requested emphatically yesterday if Kerr needs to play, Matildas’ coach Tony Gustavsson was candid along with his reply.
“No doubt,” he mentioned.
“If she’s fit enough to play 90 minutes, she’ll play 90 minutes.
“We’re talking about Sam Kerr here.”
Neither aspect has progressed past the quarter-finals of a World Cup and the French have a historical past of underperforming on the large second; a shock as a lot of their gamers have tasted final membership success with Lyon within the Champions League.
Renard has seen a change within the Matilda’s formation when Kerr isn’t taking part in, noting that the Aussies play 4-3-3.
France are decided to stay to a fluid 4-3-3 system too, with the good Le Sommer given a free roll to roam within the remaining third.
“There is a new impetus,” Le Sommer mentioned of Renard since he took over the helm of the French aspect a 12 months in the past, telling the French sports activities day by day L’Equipe.
“It was very constructive from the beginning. He arrived with loads of sunshine.’