France 0-0 Jamaica: Les Bleues fail to fire as Women’s World Cup campaign gets off to stuttering start

Jamaica earned their first-ever point at a World Cup after holding France to a goalless draw in Sydney.

After a scrappy opening 30 minutes, Kadidatou Diani had two good chances for France, forcing a good save from Rebecca Spencer and then seeing a low drive deflect off Chantelle Swaby and go inches wide.

In the second half France pushed on, with substitute Kenza Dali creating another good chance for Diani. Jamaica, playing largely on the break through Khadija Shaw, held out defiantly to keep the scores level despite increasing French pressure.

In the very last minute, a final chance for Diani saw her header hit the underside of the bar and go safe. Shaw was sent off for a second yellow card in injury time, but Jamaica held on.

France will now play Brazil in Brisbane on Saturday, while Jamaica head to Perth to face Panama.

Where do France go from here? At international tournaments France are an enigma wrapped in a riddle; there or thereabouts, close but not close enough. They were expected to win today to set up a showdown with Brazil on Saturday for control of Group F, but a disjointed performance saw them leave Sydney with only a point.

They are missing two key players in Delphine Cascarino and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, but on this evidence they aren’t currently utilising the best combinations available in the squad. The second half introduction of Dali and Vicki Becho was transformative, but too late to inspire a victory.

There will now be a clamour for Dali and Becho to start against Brazil, while Diani will need to shake off a poor performance in front of goal today. Eugenie Le Sommer, France’s greatest-ever goal scorer, was noticeably quiet too. If this French team are to finally realise their potential here, they will need to find cohesion up front and quickly.

It takes more than one player to keep a clean sheet under increasing pressure, but Tottenham’s goalkeeper was the focal point of Jamaica’s rearguard action today. An assured presence at the back, Spencer made a couple of crucial saves and dealt calmly with an endless barrage of corners and crosses from France.

France: Peyraud-Magnin 6; Lakrar 7, Cascarino 6, Renard 6, Karchaoui 7; Geyoro 7, Toletti 7, Majri 6; Diani 5, Le Sommer 6, Mateo 6

Jamaica: Spencer 8, Sampson 6, Chantelle Swaby 7, Allyson Swaby 7, Wiltshire 6; Spence 6, Brown 7, Blackwood 7, Primus 6; Shaw 7, Matthews 6

Subs: Solaun 6, Washington 6

35’ CHANCE! Out of nothing France find some cohesion, as they release Mateo between the Jamaican midfield and back four. Mateo lays it off to Diani on the right of the area, and her low drive is pushed around the near post by Spencer.

41’ CLOSE! Jamaica win a free kick, 25 yards out and central. Shaw lines it up and booms a shot at goal; it looks like Peyraud-Magnin got fingers to that to turn it around the post, but a goal kick is given.

45+5’ CHANCE! After whipping a dangerous cross through the area, Diani soon picks up the return ball on the edge of the area. She booms a half-volley at goal, but Chantelle Swaby rushes out to block and the deflection sends the ball inches wide of the post with Spencer beaten. So close!

67’ BIG CHANCE! Dali makes an immediate impact, picking the ball up and fizzing it in to the back post. Diani is there first, six yards out, but she glances it wide!

90’ OFF THE BAR! Becho fires in a brilliant cross from the right. Diani rises in the middle, a free header, but plants it onto the underside of the bar and it flies out!

90+2’ RED CARD! We’re into six additional minutes, and there’s more drama as Shaw clatters Renard on the touchline. It’s a second yellow and she’s off! A huge blow for Jamaica, both here and for the tournament.

This draw gave Jamaica their first-ever point at the Women’s World Cup.