Only a defeat against the 47th nation in the Fifa ranking could delay the Blues on the road to Australia and New Zealand, where they already have a foot and a half.

In other words, a draw or, better, an eighth victory in eight qualifying matches would officially send them to the Southern Hemisphere.

"We still have a step to take. A draw will not be enough for us, we have a little revenge to take against this team which had put us in difficulty in the first leg (3-2, in September)", declared the coach Corinne Deacon on Monday from Clairefontaine.

Quickly led, the French had taken control with a double from Marie-Antoinette Katoto, before being joined at the very end of the game.

A penalty from Amel Majri in added time saved them.

Unless there is a poor performance, France will join the two host countries as well as the representatives of the Asian Confederation already qualified (China, South Korea, Japan, Philippines and Vietnam).

Germany, Sweden and Spain can also get their ticket to Oceania on Tuesday.

The harvest of points collected this season by the French, still victorious 2-1 on Friday in Wales, offers them a comfortable cushion of seven units ahead of the Slovenes, their group I runners-up, with three matches still to be played.

Bleues coach Corinne Deacon replaces her players during the match against the Welsh at Llanelli, April 8, 2022 Ashley Crowden AFP / Archives

At Le Mans, they will have the ambition to finish the job even before the last qualifying window in September, which would give them significant peace of mind as the European Championship in July in England approaches.

Baltimore/Cascarino Game

Behind the collective goal, the short trip to Sarthe also has a certain importance for the players who, individually, benefit from a last opportunity to show themselves in the eyes of the coach.

Friday at Llanelli, Deacon lined up what looks like his typical team: Peyraud-Magnin in the cage, Renard and Mbock in the axis of the defense, Périsset on the right and Karchaoui on the left, Bilbault as a sentry behind the Geyoro midfielders and Toletti, Katoto in the centre-forward, Diani and Cascarino on the wings.

These players could very well form the eleven against Italy on July 10 for the first group match of the Blues at the Euro.

But openings are still possible for certain positions.

The left-hander of the Bleues Sandy Baltimore against the Netherlands at the Océane stadium, February 22, 2022 in Le Havre FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

From the left flank of the attack on Friday, the right-hander Delphine Cascarino destabilized the defense but was sometimes unable to exploit her overflows.

"Delphine just has to get used to playing in that position and choose what to do," cut Deacon after the victory over the Welsh.

Sandy Baltimore, who replaced her after the hour mark, could however have a card to play on Tuesday.

Explosive, like the Lyonnaise, the left-handed Paris SG can also be valuable on set pieces.

Also off the bench at Llanelli, Clara Matéo will also want to show that she is capable of playing spoilsport, even if the coach considers her a replacement.

To be a starter, he still lacks "a lot of things", replied Deacon on the eve of the match against Wales.

"At the same time, if it's there, it's because there's less of it than yesterday. Places are expensive, the team is homogeneous".

The French Delphine Cascarino (N.20) in the fight with the Welsh Jess Fishlock in Llanelli, April 8, 2022 Ashley Crowden AFP / Archives

Some Bleues owe their summons to absences and, for them, the April course seems like a last chance to win their place in the group to compete in the Euro.

In defense, it is the case of Perle Morroni who replaced Selma Bacha, injured.

In the middle, Ella Palis slipped into the 23 at the expense of Kheira Hamraoui.

And the last tickets for the Euro remain to be seized, just like the ticket of the Blue ones for the World Cup.

© 2022 AFP