LIVE. France-Colombia: Perfect start to the Paris 2024 Olympics for Wendy Renard's Blues

Kenza Dali et les Bleues sont prêtes à en découdre, ici lors de leur dernier match avant les JO contre l’Irlande. MAXPPP - Gilles WIRTZ

The French women's football team enters the Olympic tournament this Thursday, July 25 at 9 p.m. Hervé Renard's team faces Colombia at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon.

Breaking the glass ceiling

France begins its tournament against Colombia. The first two teams qualify for the quarterfinals as well as the two best third-placed teams from all 3 groups.

Qualification for the quarter-finals of Hervé Renard's group should not pose a problem, we will then have to succeed in reaching and then crossing the threshold of the semi-finals. The French women have never managed to reach the final of the Games, World Cup or Euro in which they participated.

A match to follow live with commentary here:

9:42 p.m.

42nd: France 3 - 0 Colombia

Renard opens at length on Katoto who puts it back on Diani, the attacker overflows to the left and crosses for Katoto whose cross header goes into the goal.

9:41 p.m.

41e

Cascarino overflows on the right side and crosses to the far post for Diani who finds herself alone but her head is not down enough to enter the goals.

9:40 p.m.

39e

Strike at the entrance to the area in a half-volley which takes the direction of the goal but it is stopped by Tapia.

9:39 p.m.

37e

New Colombian incursion into the French area, the strike is totally missed and comes out in six meters.

9:37 p.m.

36e

Arias is found at the near post on the corner hit by Colombia, his header goes over.

9:35 p.m.

35e

Ramirez is the one who poses the most problem to the French defense, her ball protection forces the defense to commit fouls on her.

9:33 p.m.

32e

The game is chopped up for a few minutes and takes place mainly in the middle of the field.

9:27 p.m.

27e

Beautiful French construction in one touch of the ball on 7 consecutive touches, Karchaoui is jostled in the area but the referee says nothing.

9:25 p.m.

24e

Despite a perfect start from Les Bleues, France remains under threat from Colombia who are not giving up.

9:20 p.m.

20e

France is saved by its post! !! Arias overflows on the right and crosses on Ramirez whose uncrossed header crashes into Peyraud-Magnin's left post.

9:18 p.m.

17th: France 2 - 0 Colombia

Lakrar overflows on the right side, his center is pushed back by the goalkeeper on Dali who at the entrance to the penalty area hits under Tapia's crossbar.

9:17 p.m.

16e

On the following corner, Katoto touches the ball with his hand but this is not verified by the VAR.

9:16 p.m.

15e

Ramirez puts Peyraud-Magnin to work! She recovers the ball and advances towards the surface, her powerful shot at the first post is deflected into a corner by the French goalkeeper.

21h12.

12e

Katoto misses the break! On a corner she is found at the second post and sends a super powerful header well deflected by Tapia.

21h10.

10e

The Colombians do not find solutions and abuse long balls that are not dangerous.

9:06 p.m.

5th: France 1 - 0 Colombia

On a long opening of Fox, the Colombian defense hesitates and Katoto overtakes the defense to beat goalkeeper Tapia up close.

9:03 p.m.

3e< /h2>

In these first minutes, it is the Colombians who hold the ball but face high pressure from the French.

9:00 p.m. .

0e

Colombia kicks off of this meeting

8:45 p.m.

H - 15'

Hervé Renard's composition for this first meeting against the Cafeteras is unsurprising: Peyraud-Magnin in the goals, Mbock and Renard in the central hinge with Lakrar and Karchaoui on the sides. Geyoro, Toletti and Dali will occupy the middle behind an attack with Katoto, Diani and Cascarino.

8:30 p.m.

H - 30'

In the other match of this group A, Canada and New Zealand faced each other at the start of the afternoon and it was the Canadians , reigning Olympic champions, who won (2-1). They will be the Bleues' next opponents.

8:15 p.m.

H - 45'

The last meeting between the Blues and the Colombians was a friendly meeting in 2023 won largely by the France team (5-2). However, the Blues were trailing 0-2 before turning the game around after the 50th minute.

20h00.

H - 60'

The preparation of the French women's football team went rather well but during official meetings counting for qualifications for the Euro 2025. After a friendly against Uzbekistan easily won (5-0), the Blues sought qualification for the next Euro by winning against the Swedes (2-1) before losing their last match before the Olympics against Ireland (3-1) with a significantly reshuffled team.