Women’s World Cup 2023: Wendie Renard grabs late winner as France down Brazil to close on knockouts

A late Wendie Renard goal earned France a 2-1 win over Brazil as Les Blues snatched a crucial three points in the battle to make it through to the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup.

France came into the blockbuster Group F fixture under pressure after an opening draw with Jamaica but were in the ascendancy from the off and deservedly opened the scoring in the 17th minute.

Brazil hit back in the second period through Debinha but Renard’s late header proved decisive and put France top of the group.

After the opening round of fixtures, Brazil were well fancied to register their first victory over France but failed to get going.

Le Sommer looked a different player and was a constant thorn in Brazil’s side, drawing a superb save from Leticia in the 12th minute when she glanced a delightful header towards the back post.

Five minutes later she got her just rewards when she broke the deadlock. Sakina Karchaoui’s looped ball into the box was brilliantly flicked on by Kadidiatou Diani before Le Sommer directed a pinpoint header past Leticia.

Les Blues continued to probe for a second, but it was Brazil who should have scored next and drawn level. France gave the ball away carelessly and Debinha pounced to tee up Adriana, but she rushed her effort and blasted it high and wide.

That was as good as it got for Brazil in a lacklustre first-half performance.

Brazil upped the tempo in the second period and set up an enthralling final 30 minutes when Debinha made it 1-1 in the 58th minute.

There was a hint of good fortune in the build-up when Kerolin’s shot was deflected into Debinha’s path, but there was nothing lucky about the finish as she coolly nudged it into the far corner.

That goal put Brazil back in control of Group F, but France snatched a deserved three points late on when Renard was left unmarked at the back post and made no mistake when she was found by a brilliant Selma Bacha delivery.

The win has blown Group F wide open and leaves Brazil in jeopardy of an early exit.

In the final round of group matches, France face Panama and Brazil take on Jamaica.

A victory would have guaranteed Brazil a place in the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup. Now, however, they are in jeopardy of an early exit. France’s win takes them onto four points, one clear of Brazil, and they could be joined by Jamaica if they beat Panama in the next Group F fixture.

That would set Brazil up with a potentially make or break match against Jamaica, leaving them in serious danger. They aren’t alone, though, as all four teams still have hope of getting out the group.

The French forward drew a blank against Jamaica but appeared back to her best when the occasion called for it against Brazil. From the first whistle she posed a constant threat and on another day could have easily bagged herself a brace or even a hat-trick.

Still, she’ll be happy with her return and overall contribution as she dragged defenders from pillar to post until she was withdrawn after 65 minutes. If she can produce the same against Panama, France will be tough to beat.

FRANCE: Peyraud-Magnin (6), Lakrar (6), Renard (8), Perisset (7), Karchaoui (6), Geyoro (7), Toletti (6), Dali (7), Diani (7), Le Sommer (9), Bacha (8). SUBS: Le Garrec (n/a), Becho (6)

Brazil: Leticia (6), Antonia (6), Leal Costa (5), Rafaelle Souza (5), Dias Gomes (5), Ary Borges (6), Israel Ferraz (6), Bertolucci Paixao (5), Leal da Silva (5), Da Silva Ferreira (6), Debinha (7). SUBS: Alves da Silva (4), Kliemaschewsk de Araujo (n/a), Vieira da Silva (n/a), Zaneratto Joao (n/a), Hickmann Alves (n/a)

12′ – CHANCE FOR FRANCE: Sommer breaks forward but can’t get a shot away. The ball is then worked back in to her and she glances a brilliant header towards the far post but it’s well saved by Leticia.

17′ – GOOOAAAALLLLL! SOMMER PUTS FRANCE IN FRONT: A looping ball into the box is brilliantly flicked on by Diani and Sommer is on hand to direct a header past Leticia to give France a well-deserved lead. 1-0!

23′ – WHAT A CHANCE: Brazil are definitely coming back into this. And it’s all coming down the right. The ball is worked into the box and Adriana has a great chance to score but blasts her shot well wide.

58′ – GOOOAAAAALLLL! DEBINHA LEVELS: Ary Borges plays the ball into Kerolin, who turns and has her effort deflected into the path of Debinha. She’s clean through, takes one touch and nudges it coolly into the far corner. 1-1.

83′ – GOAL! RENARD PUTS FRANCE BACK IN FRONT: What a crucial goal this could be. Bacha whips in a superb corner into the back post. Renard ghosts in and nudges a brilliant header into the ground that bounces past Leticia to make it 2-1.

• In winning, France maintain their unbeaten record against Brazil
• Not since 2015 have France conceded more than one goal in a Women’s World Cup group match