France are in the semi-finals of the European Women’s Football Championship following defeating the defending champions Netherlands. Eve Perisset scored the decisive goal from a foul penalty in the 102nd minute to make it 1-0 following extra time following the score was 0-0 following regulation time. The French missed top-class chances. In the duel for the final, “Les Bleues” meet Germany on Wednesday. England and Sweden will play in the second semi-final on Tuesday.
In front of 9,764 spectators in Rotherham, the Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema, who was recently ill with Corona, returned, while France were missing a top striker in the injured Marie-Antoinette Katoto. The French were unperturbed and found a number of opportunities. Captain Wendie Renard’s header, Delphine Cascarino and Sandie Toletti fired into the Dutch goal. Cascarino’s beautiful shot from distance smacked the post (27′) before Melvine Malard, alone in front of the goal, shot defender Stefanie van der Gragt on the line (37′).
The Dutch women saved themselves during the break and then kept the game more open thanks to a more offensive orientation. Miedema even found an opportunity from a corner (56′). Thanks to the substitution of the lively Selma Bacha, France got the upper hand once more. Grace Geyoro missed a huge chance to score a late goal with a header from close range (87′), before Renard, who was wanted for almost every corner kick, failed in added time to Dutch keeper Daphne van Domselaar.
Perisset becomes the match winner from eleven meters
Team manager Corinne Diacre’s eleven, who had coached the men of the then second division club Clermont from 2014 to 2017, had to go into extra time. There Dominique Janssen got Kadidiatou Diani off his feet in the penalty area. After studying VAR, the Croatian referee Ivana Martincic gave the penalty, Perisset converted. Despite their best efforts, there was no response from the Dutch women. France is among the top four for the first time in its European Championship history.
(WHAT).
Featured image: Imago.
