Paris (AFP)
France-Brazil, the poster of the round of 16 looks Sunday in Le Havre (21h). But between injuries, friable defense and unequal performance, the Seleção tackles this duel in difficult conditions, despite the presence of Marta, the best goal scorer in history in World Cups football.
In eight comparisons, the Blues have won three times, for five draws. Of course, the France-Brazil poster revives in the spirit of supporters tricolor the intoxication of the heights won by Zinédine Zidane's teammates at the Mondial-98 and 2006. But we should not expect such opposition.
- Porous defense -
If the coach Vadão defends himself to be an "outsider", the recent history of his team says the opposite.
Over the past season, the French team has swallowed 13 opponents out of 14, only stumbling in February on the powerful Germany (1-0 defeat). She also won all three pool games, with only one goal (against his side) conceded.
The dynamic is very different for Brazil: leaded by nine successive defeats on his arrival in France, the South American team was third in its group, with a demoralizing setback against Australia (2-3), led by two goals.
This is the hallmark of this Brazil-2019: able to score quite easily, especially with Cristiane author of a hat-trick against Jamaica (3-0); able to crumble at any moment, because of an often defective rearguard.
Central defensemen Monica and Kathellen, a player from Bordeaux, are very often caught out, especially on the long balloons that fall back into the Brazilian surface. Their bad placement and lack of aggression cost dearly to Australia and they were no more reassuring against Italy despite the win (1-0).
The midfielder does not offer all the necessary guarantees at high level, especially when Formiga is not there.
Suspended against Italy, the dean of Paris SG (41 years) is also affected to ankle. Vadão, however, relies on his return to the Blue, which will offer "more stability to young players".
The state of form of the Seleção, deprived of three potential holders on injury before the World Cup, is far from optimal: Andressa (FC Barcelona) is forfeited for the rest of the tournament and the other two stars of attack have drawn the language against Italy.
"We did not want to lose Cristiane and Marta, by forcing too much with them it could happen," said the coach to justify their late substitutions.
- Attack of stars -
However, everything is not so dark for the selection "auriverde" which, to his credit, has strong and experienced individualities.
"Rainha Marta" (Queen Marta), six times the best player in the world, is still talking about her rage to win and her vista.
"It shows on the field what a winning mentality," says Defender Tamires. "She has the energy" and the talent to be "the point of balance of the team", Monica completes about the "icon" Brazilian, holder of the absolute record of goals in World Cups (17 in five editions), in front of German Miroslav Klose.
In attack, Brazil can also rely on the power and efficiency of Cristiane. The former PSG player, mute against the Italians, showed the full extent of its technical range against Jamaica: perfect timing to score the lead, combativeness on the second by jumping to the far post, strength and accuracy of his left foot on a direct free kick synonymous with tripled.
Less sharp against Italy, Cristiane left the beautiful role to Debinha. His vivacity was rewarded by the penalty obtained, that of qualifying the next round. Les Bleues will have to be particularly wary of the small N.9, the most striking of the band.
In November, Debinha played only the second period in the defeat against the French team (3-1) in preparation for the World Cup. Marta and Cristiane were not there. Sunday, so it will be a different game.
? 2019 AFP