Group F: France | England | Colombia | Mexico
After strong performances in pre-tournament friendlies, can France make its mark at the Women's World Cup?
The journey
France is making just its third Women's World Cup appearance, but qualifying is just a memory now, just as it is for the likes of Germany, Norway and Sweden. The French, who were the only European team to take every point from UEFA qualifying for the 2011 World Cup, were one of four to do so this time. They also outscored their opponents 54-3.
An outside threat
Les Bleues led the 2011 Women's World Cup with 71 shots from outside the penalty area, and a tournament-best 32 percent of those were on target. Expect more of the same in Canada.
The rep
There is a tendency to gild the lily when it comes to the chances for Les Bleues, as many will say the team's style, flair and rapid rise to prominence embody the progress of the women's game. But there is good reason so many embrace them; the French can play sublime technical soccer, operating in tight spaces, exploiting opponents on the flanks and testing goalkeepers from distance. With so many starters who are also teammates with Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain in the French professional league, cohesion is also a hallmark. And with 6-foot-2 Wendie Renard as one of their center-backs, France will have a strong advantage on set plays.
Projected formation
France is expected to use a 4-2-3-1 lineup:
The question
Will this be Louisa Necib's tournament? A gifted player on the left or drifting centrally, she is considered by some to be the best midfielder in the world. But she has not always showcased her best talents on the sport's biggest stages -- the Women's World Cup and Olympics. And for all its brilliance, France is still looking to reach its first final at a major tournament. If this is Necib's time, perhaps it will be France's, too.
World Cup history
A look at how France has fared in previous tournaments:
Group-stage schedule
France's first two matches will take place at Moncton Stadium, while its third match will be played at Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa:
• June 9: England, 1 p.m. ET
• June 13: Colombia, 1 p.m. ET
• June 17: Mexico, 4 p.m. ET
Foudy's take
France has all of the elements to become a World Cup champion. The last hurdle it has yet to conquer is the mental one. Can Les Bleues, under the ultimate pressure, play as champions? They have been able to beat the best teams in the world this year, but those were friendlies. This team now has the wisdom and experience after losing in the semifinals of both the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Olympics. They are ready to make a legitimate run at this even if they win the group -- which, unfortunately, would mean a likely date against Spain in the round of 16 and possibly Germany in the quarterfinals. If France were to win those two games, it would then likely face the U.S. or Sweden in the semifinals, and then the United States or Sweden in the final. If Les Bleues can win it all after that run, they deserve a Stanley Cup-sized drink as a bonus.
Social scene
Les #bleues en balade place Stanislas de Nancy #FRAECO 21h #objectifcanada pic.twitter.com/viWGxEa6GD
- Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) May 28, 2015
