Marie-Laure Delie and Elodie Thomis both scored as France overpowered South Korea 3-0 to advance to a quarter-final clash with top-ranked Germany at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.
Delie grabbed a brace with Thomis also on target in a dominant display from ‘Les Bleues’ at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium to put France through to a last-eight meeting with the world number one team.
The French followed on from their 5-0 rout of Mexico in their final group match, where they also scored early in bouncing back from their shock 2-0 defeat to Colombia.
“The players have a lot of determination as soon as the anthem plays,” said coach Philippe Bergeroo.
“We’ve done a lot of tactical work to try to muscle the opponents and it worked twice, it didn’t work against Colombia.
“By scoring early it allows us to relax and then be able to go after the opposing team.” The Koreans were hit by the absence of star striker Ji So-Yun after the Chelsea LFC player suffered a thigh injury against Spain.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Delie scored just four minutes into the game with Thomis adding the second four minutes later.
The 18th-ranked Koreans were no match for the third-ranked European side and only managed to venture forward on rare occasions with just three shots on goal.
Delie and Le Sommer both had chances to increase France’s lead before the break, but Kim Jung-Mi proved solid in Korea’s goal.
But minutes after the restart, Le Sommer beat three defenders on a superb run down the left side of the penalty area, passing the ball back to Delie to score.
France qualified top of Group F after wins over England and Mexico. But Bergeroo admitted it took the players a while to digest their shock loss to Colombia.
“After Colombia my role was to protect my team and when times are difficult you need to tell them ‘I have confidence in you’ and if there is someone to take blame for defeat I will take it as the coach. It takes the responsibility off them.”
CANADA 1 SWITZERLAND 0
A Josee Belanger second-half goal was enough to secure hosts Canada a quarter-final spot at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Switzerland.
The 29-year-old from Quebec scored the winner after 52 minutes to the delight of a passionate home crowd of 53,855 at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium.
Canada, fourth in 2003 and ranked eighth, next play either former champions Norway or England next Saturday in Vancouver for a place in the semi-final.
Switzerland, competing in their first World Cup and ranked 19th, had advanced from the group stage as one of the best third-place finishers.
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