Match ends, Panama 3, France 6.
Fifa Women's World Cup 2023 |
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Hosts: Australia and New Zealand Dates: 20 July-20 August |
Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website & app. Full coverage details; latest news |
France manager Herve Renard warned his players "not to take anything for granted" as they survived a scare to beat Panama and finish top of Group F at the Women's World Cup.
After Panama led through Marta Cox's superb free-kick, France took control in Sydney with Kadi Diani scoring a hat-trick.
But Panama pulled two goals back, and Renard was unhappy his side eased off.
"I just think they were looking for easy way out tonight," he said.
"We were 5-1 up, with the game in the bag... you see this often in football. It was poor attitude from the girls for a few minutes.
"The devil is in the detail in games like this, and this shows the younger girls not to take anything for granted."
Renard rested captain Wendie Renard and all-time top scorer Eugenie le Sommer among five changes from the 2-1 win over Brazil, and he felt some of the incoming players had failed to impress.
"We rested a lot of players, and it shows those who want to be part of the XI need to pull their socks up, as it wasn't good enough at times tonight," he said.
France will face the runners up in Group H - possibly Germany - in the last 16.
Meanwhile, debutants Panama, already eliminated from the tournament before this game, have lost all three matches at their first World Cup.
Improving France rise to the top
The route to the last 16 has not been smooth for France at this World Cup - they were held by Jamaica in their opener, needed a late winner against Brazil and were shell-shocked by Cox's brilliance here.
But they reacted well to the early scare and quickly established dominance, and when Deysire Salazar sliced Maelle Lakrar's header into her own net, it came after a sustained spell of France pressure.
Vicki Becho was just the latest France player to open up Panama out wide and she pulled it back for Diani, who almost scored with a backheel before she lifted the rebound over covering defender Wendy Natis on the line and in via the crossbar.
The three points and top spot were sealed when Pinzon handled in the box, allowing Diani to stroke home the penalty, and it was four before half-time when Lea Le Garrec's deep cross evaded everyone including keeper Yenith Bailey to nestle in the top corner.
Stand-in captain Diani, who had surgery on her collarbone in April and looked half-fit against Jamaica, is a growing threat and completed her hat-trick from the spot after the break following Natis' handball.
In the 10th minute of stoppage time, 19-year-old Becho flicked home her first senior international goal to conclude a nine-goal thriller.
After a couple of false starts France look set to be a real threat in the knockout stages.
Panama's magic moments
With no chance of progressing to the last 16, Panama have struggled to make a mark on this tournament.
Enter Cox, their inspirational captain who made her international debut aged 14. She drove forwards straight from kick-off, earning a foul and free-kick, which she struck perfectly into the top corner from 30 yards.
Panama manager Ignacio Quintana said the free-kick should be considered for Fifa's award for the best goal of the year.
"This will be a moment we will always remember," Quintana said. "It was like qualifying for the World Cup, that's how we lived it.
"It is a Puskas Award candidate. And it will be motivating for many players. That is our philosophy - every player being proud to be representing Panama."
Ultimately, Panama were well beaten by a superior side, and there were recriminations after falling 4-1 down before half-time with the players holding a fractious and impromptu meeting on the pitch before going down the tunnel.
But this is a young side - 11 of their 23-player squad are aged 23 and under - and they will have learned plenty from this experience.
And they created some more magic moments when Yomira Pinzon slammed in from the spot - retaken after her first was ruled out for a stuttering run-up - before Lineth Cedeno headed in after a deep free-kick, misjudged by keeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, bounced back off the bar.
Player of the match
CoxMarta Cox
Panama
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameCoxAverage rating
8.30
- Squad number11Player nameMillsAverage rating
7.96
- Squad number16Player nameEspinosaAverage rating
7.32
- Squad number13Player nameTannerAverage rating
7.25
- Squad number14Player nameMontenegroAverage rating
7.03
- Squad number20Player nameQuinteroAverage rating
6.95
- Squad number6Player nameSalazarAverage rating
6.84
- Squad number5Player namePinzónAverage rating
6.81
- Squad number19Player nameCedeñoAverage rating
6.69
- Squad number7Player nameCedeñoAverage rating
6.63
- Squad number3Player nameNatisAverage rating
6.60
- Squad number8Player nameGonzálezAverage rating
6.50
- Squad number23Player nameBaltrip-ReyesAverage rating
6.48
- Squad number18Player nameHernándezAverage rating
6.34
- Squad number2Player nameJaénAverage rating
6.27
- Squad number12Player nameBaileyAverage rating
5.81
France
Avg
- Squad number4Player nameFazerAverage rating
7.31
- Squad number11Player nameDianiAverage rating
7.23
- Squad number10Player nameMajriAverage rating
6.95
- Squad number18Player nameAsseyiAverage rating
6.90
- Squad number22Player namePérissetAverage rating
6.29
- Squad number17Player nameLe GarrecAverage rating
6.24
- Squad number12Player nameMatéoAverage rating
6.19
- Squad number2Player nameLakrarAverage rating
6.01
- Squad number23Player nameBèchoAverage rating
5.99
- Squad number13Player nameBachaAverage rating
5.95
- Squad number5Player namede AlmeidaAverage rating
5.91
- Squad number20Player nameCascarinoAverage rating
5.84
- Squad number8Player nameGeyoroAverage rating
5.78
- Squad number16Player namePeyraud-MagninAverage rating
5.32
Line-ups
Panama
Formation 4-5-1
- 12Bailey
- 2Jaén
- 3NatisSubstituted forEspinosaat 62'minutes
- 5PinzónBooked at 66mins
- 23Baltrip-Reyes
- 7CedeñoSubstituted forHernándezat 58'minutes
- 20Quintero
- 6SalazarSubstituted forCedeñoat 45'minutes
- 14MontenegroSubstituted forGonzálezat 58'minutes
- 13TannerSubstituted forMillsat 81'minutes
- 10Cox
Substitutes
- 1Fábrega
- 4Castillo
- 8González
- 9Riley
- 11Mills
- 15Vargas
- 16Espinosa
- 17Batista
- 18Hernández
- 19Cedeño
- 21de Obaldía
- 22Córdoba
France
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 16Peyraud-Magnin
- 22Périsset
- 2Lakrar
- 5de Almeida
- 20Cascarino
- 23Bècho
- 17Le Garrec
- 8GeyoroSubstituted forMajriat 45'minutes
- 13BachaSubstituted forAsseyiat 45'minutes
- 12Matéo
- 11DianiSubstituted forFazerat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Durand
- 3Renard
- 4Fazer
- 6Toletti
- 7Karchaoui
- 9Le Sommer
- 10Majri
- 14Tounkara
- 15Dali
- 18Asseyi
- 19Feller
- 21Picaud
- Referee:
- Laura Fortunato
- Attendance:
- 40,498
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home28%
- Away72%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away26
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away10
- Corners
- Home0
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Panama 3, France 6.
Goal!
Goal! Panama 3, France 6. Vicki Bècho (France) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ève Périsset with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Clara Matéo (France).
Post update
Aldrith Quintero (Panama) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Amel Majri (France) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Viviane Asseyi.
Post update
Foul by Élisa de Almeida (France).
Post update
Marta Cox (Panama) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
VAR Decision: Goal Panama 3-5 France (Lineth Cedeño).
Goal!
Goal! Panama 3, France 5. Lineth Cedeño (Panama) header from very close range to the bottom left corner following a set piece situation.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
Post update
Foul by Vicki Bècho (France).
Post update
Aldrith Quintero (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Offside, Panama. Marta Cox tries a through ball, but Lineth Cedeño is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marta Cox (Panama) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Foul by Viviane Asseyi (France).
Post update
Erika Hernández (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marta Cox (Panama) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Maëlle Lakrar (France).
Post update
Lineth Cedeño (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Comments
Join the conversation
If Panamaianesses learned to plug their defence, this wouldn't be such an issue.
Just off now to watch it again …. and again ..
The ball was going miles (exaggeration) over the bar before dropping into that top corner. Aren't the laws of physics amazing!?
As she clearly stated...
Without Cox...
Panama were insipid...
Isn't it.
Looking forward to the remainder of the competition! 🙏
Neither applies. France led 5-1 early in the 2nd half.
I think that VAR is ruining the game now
Columbia to beat Morocco…and then beat Jamaica in normal time, unless they try for another draw and hope for Pens!
Either Germany (unlucky v Colombia), Sweden or England look the likely winners, judging by recent performances. Colombia are outsiders, even if they get 9pts.
I don’t rate France, Jamaica or any others.