Victorious on Tuesday from Slovenia (1-0), the Blue will be able to go to Australia and New Zealand.

The French women's football team has indeed won its precious sesame for the World Cup-2023 which will take place from July 20 to August 20.

This qualification is especially welcome three months before the Euro.

In front of some 10,000 spectators at Le Mans, Corinne Deacon's players won their eighth victory in as many games in this qualifying course with two more games in September.

France, at the top of Group I with an 8-point lead over Wales, will therefore play the fifth final phase in their history at the World Cup, where they will try to do better than in 2011 (fourth), 2015 and 2019 (quarter-finals).

45 minutes to improve

Tuesday, the French however struggled for a long time before beating the 47th nation in the FIFA rankings, offering two diametrically opposed faces from one period to another: imprecise and sometimes tender before the break, voluntary and dangerous after.

The doubts born before half-time also flew away as soon as they returned from the locker room, with a goal scored after just two minutes by Delphine Cascarino (48th).

Les Bleues then accelerated and set fire to the Slovenian defense, saved by a post on a header from Renard (53rd) then feverish with each tricolor incursion, as on this attempt to snatch Marie-Antoinette Katoto (58th) although served by Sandy Baltimore.

The latter was also one of the lucky ones propelled at kick-off by Deacon who, contrary to expectations, had opted for a team made up of half of the usual substitutes.

The Parisian winger lit several fuses, with sudden accelerations and several strikes on goal.

It is thus she who makes the difference for Clara Matéo, decisive passer on the opener.

Clara Matéo is approaching the Euro

The Paris FC striker, too, is one of the winners of the evening.

She took advantage of a new opportunity offered to show herself, displaying availability, volume of play and commitment.

Like other players, Matéo played big on this match while the list for the Euro is expected at the end of May.

Three months before their entry into the running, on July 10 against Italy, Les Bleues also know that they will have to raise their level even further to hope to win a first international title.

The first period can serve as a useful reminder.

Pauline Peyraud-Magnin was used on a lob (8th), dove into the feet of a threatening opponent (43rd, 90th + 1) and was saved by an offside after having badly repelled an aerial ball (9th) .

There is therefore still work to be done for Les Bleues, whose series of 12 victories in a row, unprecedented since the record of 17 consecutive successes achieved between August 2011 and July 2012, can act as a sham.

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  • Sport

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  • Women's football

  • French women's team

  • Corinne Deacon

  • Le Mans

  • Pays de la Loire

  • Women's World Cup