August 4 – With their first-ever win against France, Brazil eliminated the host nation from the Olympic Women’s tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Spain, Germany and the United States complete the semi-final line-up.
The French had never lost in 21 meetings against the Brazilians, but defeat at the La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes could not have come at a worse moment: Les Bleues’s Olympic dream on home is over and Gabi Portilho is a name Hervé Renard and his team will not easily forget.
In the last ten minutes of regular time, Portilho grabbed the winner forcing a defensive mistake from the French rearguard for an athletic and aggressive Brazil.
After two defeats in the first round and the suspension of lodestar Marta, the Brazilians rode their luck at times. The hosts had countless opportunities to put the South Americans to the sword but did not score.
Sakina Karachaoui failed to convert a spot kick early on, Griedge Mbock’s header ricocheted off the crossbar and Marie-Antoinette Katoto struck the woodwork after the break. In the dying minutes of the match, the hosts threw everything forward but ultimately could not find an equaliser.
For France, it was agony. Ranked second in the FIFA standings, the French have failed to reach the quarter-finals seven times in their last eight appearances at a major tournament. At the 2019 Women’s World Cup on home soil, the eventual winners the United States proved too strong. Last year, France did reach the last eight but fell to hosts Australia.
Renard will leave his post after the tournament. “When you don’t qualify for a semi-final, it’s a failure. If you want to say it’s a failure, just say so. It’s a simple analysis and I have an overall analysis of all the work we’ve put in. I don’t think we’ve been rewarded for what we’ve done,” said Renard.
In the last four, the Brazilians face world champions Spain. The Spanish manufactured a great escape against Colombia, clawing their way back from two goals down to eventually prevail from the penalty spot 4-2, with both Catalina Usme and Liana Salazar missing their spot kick for Colombia.
Goals from Jennifer Hermoso – in the 79th minute – and Irene Paredes had forced extra time. Midway through the second half, Colombia star Linda Caicedo had limped off injured.
The other semi-final is no less of a blockbuster and a first-round replay as well. The United States edged past Japan 1-0 after extra time with a brilliant 107th-minute strike from Trinity Rodman.
The Americans had dominated possession in a slower burner and ultimately deserved victory in a rematch of the 2011 Women’s World Cup final. They will be confident of reaching the final facing Germany in the semi-finals. The US trashed the Germans 4-1 in the first round.
Germany eliminated the defending champions from the penalty spot after a goalless draw. The Canadians had squeezed into the last eight after Dronegate and a perfect record in their group.
The Olympic women’s tournament culminates on August 10 with the final at the Parc des Princes in the French capital.
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