Sweden 1-2 France - London 2012 Olympic Women's Football, Quarter-Final (3rd August 2012)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on August 2, 2012 at 12:15

This match should be a walk in the park for France and sweet revenge for last year´s loss. Maybe our silent hound Gromit wants to speculate on how les Pie-bleues might lose the match? Whether anyone will bother turn up and watch is another good question.

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 2, 2012 at 12:32

I think that the match will be very tight. The two teams are very close. They already were last year at the WC. France lost at the same time (after 30 minutes only) her Goal-Keeper and Louisa Necib on injuries. The two teams hit the posts. A Swede was sent off with 20 minutes to go after a shameful kick in Bompastor's stomach when on the ground. I'm happy to see that she's no longer with the team.

Sweden is well organized in defense, has a very good keeper (the best in the tournament so far with Andreia and Sepulveda) and fast forwards, with a super player, Lotta Schelin. Sweden's weakness I think is in midfield. Precisely France's strength, particularly if Bini calls Abily, Necib and Bussaglia (rather than Soubeyrand).

It might go to extra-time, even on penalties. Sweden is ranked #4  by Fifa, France #6. Sweden will be favourite and a French victory would prove Les Bleues' prgression. If they are able to play 90 or 120 minutes as their best 45 against Korea or Colombia (or the 90 against Japan in friendly), it could be alright. But are they able to do it ?

Will Ziza play as magically as in first half against Colombia ? We need her skill, cleverness and elegance.

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on August 2, 2012 at 15:31

Baring some peculiar turn of events such as one of the teams scoring in the first 2-3 minutes, one would expect Sweden´s approach to be to try to contain the blue hordes as they sweep forward towards their goal. If Sweden can keep the zero for 15-20 minutes, self-doubt and frustration will plague les Pie-belues, and the blue-yellow flag might be planted in the opponents´ half. Should Sweden be 1-0 up by half-time or early in the second half anything can happen.

    The harsh reality for this scenario to play out, is for Sweden to fire on all cylinders and concentrate. More likely is that France will win 2-0 or, even, 3-0.

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 2, 2012 at 15:36

I think that the score will be 2-1 again but I don't know for who..

I hope that Lotta will play as a striker, i.e. in Wendie Renard's zone. If she goes to the left wing, there will be great danger for France because Corine Franco is not at her ease in this tournament.

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on August 2, 2012 at 15:51

The Japanese defense were able to neutralise the Swedish attack and mark Lotta Schelin out of the game. Indeed, the Japanese completely outplayed Sweden in the second half, though in the last 10 minutes or so Sweden started to come back into the game. On the other hand, the Canadians were unlucky not to beat Sweden.

   Thus, we can expect that it will be a close match but, apart from incidental injuries or penalties for hands, France ought to win this match. The Japanese, one expects, will be praying for the Swedes to overcome. Bad weather would, probably, favour the Swedes.

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 2, 2012 at 16:01

It is usually believed in France that the Scots love the French (seeing that France is England's best ennemy of course and thanks to the Auld Alliance too). And they are very welcoming people indeed. So, I hope that the Glasgowians will support Les Bleues !

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 2, 2012 at 22:47

Camille Abily's interview (translated) given today to Sports daily L'Equipe.

Camille, what is your analysis about the group stage ?

The most important thing was to go through. As far as playing is concerned, it was uncertain, with some very good moments, other less good. Against the USA (2-4), we were not present at all. Against Korea (5-0), we felt stressed, we were inhibited. After scoring we let ourselves go, even if Korea had a loss of form in second half. Against Colombia (1-0), the first half was very good. I was more disappointed at the end of the match, I had the feeling that we had done a rotten second half but when I saw it again, I noticed that we built our game well.

As for you, you went out from the team after the USA before coming back against Colombia…

We always enjoy playing. My performance against USA was not good, as the team's. I was pleased with my return against North Korea or my game against Colombia, I think I was not bad. Even if I would have liked to score with the last opportunity at the 90th minute. I must put it into the net. We can't miss so many opportunities. From the QF, we won't have as many of them.

Precisely, you are about to meet a Swedish team which beat you last year in the WC's 3rd place match (1-2).

I remember we were dead, exhausted. They were lucky too, because on the second goal, the player (Hammarstrom) can succeed one time out of one hundred (smiles). We are in better shape. Bruno is building on what happened at the WC and we are working more on recuperation, on rest. I feel we are less tired than at the WC.

Is Swedish game, with its physical and tall size, good for you ?

If we can put our game in place, yes. We'll have to be in movement, acute in the pass, then we can harm them very much. They are not very quick in defense. They are strong but on two or three meters, they are not fast., We can destabilize them by playing on the sides with short pass. I am confident, even if we'll have to be very careful with Lotta (Schelin, her Lyon's team-mate), she is a very great player. But we know her very well, she already did it to us last year by scoring ! If I bump into her, I'll ask her to leave us something, she already had the medal last year. She must think about us if she wants to get passes next season with Lyon (laughs).

Yohann HAUTBOIS, in Glasgow  (Gromit's translation)

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on August 2, 2012 at 23:07

Thank you, Gromit old hound.  The young lady is right. France has improved while Sweden has at best stood still and in truth declined a bit. Marie Hammarström has, unfortunately for her opponents, found her form again. Marie is a naturally two-footed player, and the skill she used to score the "Hammer-goal" last year was amazing.

   It will be a close match but a match that France are favourites to win in regulation time. Well understood, anything can happen but on balance the probabilities favour les Pie-bleues. Heja Sverige, heja heja heja!

(The photo is not very flattering, I think.)

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on August 3, 2012 at 5:43

@ Gromit -- High time to put on your Nadesheiko shirt and your home-knitted Pie-bleues-scarf.  Have you slaughtered a cocquerel yet?  Maybe, being feminine football, it has to be a hen for it to work? Maybe some chicken fillets in a tomato and red wine sauce will be enough? Should I cook mine in a lemon sauce?

   Let´s trust that there will be no disputed calls -- no hands not given or off-sides missed. Do you know if there has ever been a cat-fight at a women´s game? I have never heard of one, so there probably were none.

   What is your latest prediction?  France 3 - Sweden 1 ? And in the other match? Japan 2 - Brazil 1 ?

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 3, 2012 at 10:27

I think 2-1 in both matches but don't know for who...

I couldn't find any cocquerel nor hen in the market this morning, so I'll use a penguin instead (it was disguised as a chicken). I put it in a bottle in order to straightly cook "un pingouin au vin" (same as coq au vin).

Lars Breimer said:

@ Gromit -- High time to put on your Nadesheiko shirt and your home-knitted Pie-bleues-scarf.  Have you slaughtered a cocquerel yet?  Maybe, being feminine football, it has to be a hen for it to work? Maybe some chicken fillets in a tomato and red wine sauce will be enough? Should I cook mine in a lemon sauce?

   Let´s trust that there will be no disputed calls -- no hands not given or off-sides missed. Do you know if there has ever been a cat-fight at a women´s game? I have never heard of one, so there probably were none.

   What is your latest prediction?  France 3 - Sweden 1 ? And in the other match? Japan 2 - Brazil 1 ?

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 3, 2012 at 10:44

Two great pages about Les Bleues in today's L'Equipe ! Click on the pics for a bigger size.

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on August 3, 2012 at 11:04

You never cease to amaze me, Gromit!  One day I will trump you, perhaps ....

   Swedish media ignore their ladies ..

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