Football: What to remember from Nîmes Olympique's last victorious preparation match

It’was the eighth and final preparation match for Nîmes Olympique. It was especially the most important, a week before the start of the championship. The one that a lot of people wanted to see, but which was behind closed doors.

So, what did we see?? Exciting then resistant Crocs. Crocs who seduced and then suffered. There is the score, perfect: 2-0, two goals scored by attackers and a solid clean sheet from Cozzella, hesitant at the start of the game, savior and saved (by his edge) on arrival .

And there is the manner: dominating in the first half, they were dominated in the second. Cannes would have deserved to reduce the gap, but the efforts of Gard (defensive withdrawal, self-sacrifice) prevented them from doing so, no doubt.

The key actions of the match

2nd minute Marcel curls a good shot that heads towards the side netting, but the ball is deflected for a corner.
10th Cross &agrave Dangerous low pass from Cannes' Vinci, who passes in front of Cozzella's goal without finding a taker.
20th Picouleau's dry strike at the edge of the area, also deflected for a corner.
28thNice collective sequence from Nîmes, Diouf-Sbaï-Marcel. The latter serves at the 6-meter mark and on a Camara plateau, who is clearly unbalanced by a Cannes player. But no penalty according to the referee…
32nd, GOAL 1-0 for Nîmes on another nice crocodile action, concluded by Abdeljelil after Bouanoune found the post. Nice one-two beforehand between Beneddine and Camara.
34th, GOAL 2-0 for Nîmes thanks to Camara, following a cross from Beneddine initially taken by Abdeljelil.
50e Volley from the Azuréen Chambon over the top.
55e Powerful strike from Goncalves repelled by Cozzella.
66eThe Gard defense is unbalanced, but Fischer, in a good position, does not find the target.
80e Abbas' attempt captured by Cozzella.
83e Fischer's cross-shot, again, finds the edge of Cozzella's goal, who was beaten.
86e Fischer &agrave the strike, Cozzella à the parry, again!

Adil Hermach satisfied

"At the beginning, we were in what we wanted, with high recoveries, good sequences, a lot of running, analyzed coach Adil Hermach before going to see the end of the friendly match of the reserve at the Bastide. Then, it is normal that Cannes, which is a good team (which will aim for promotion to National, Editor's note), had some strong moments. They made a lot of changes quickly, only me one, in the very hot weather, which perhaps explains our drop in form. But what I will remember from the second half is our ability to defend together, to surpass ourselves to keep our goal inviolate."

When Diouf, defensive work completed, inquires about his brother's result in the Olympic final

Once the defensive work was done and the match was over, Waly Diouf had nothing left to do but inquire about the result of his brother Andy, a member of the French group beaten in the Olympic final by Spain (5-3 after extra time). Come on, both deserve a medal.

Marcel was replaced as a precaution due to intercostal pain. Mendy couldn't finish the game, but it was just cramps. Finally, Mexico, injured in the adductor at the start of the preparation, was able to play its first minutes. I subscribe to read the rest