In a thrilling encounter during the U17 Women's World Cup taking place in Morocco, the French U18 women's team suffered a defeat against Japan, finishing the match 2-0 on October 21, 2026. This match was held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, a key venue for this prestigious tournament.
Following a strong start with a victory over Venezuela just three days prior, where France secured a solid 2-0 win, the young Tricolores faced a more challenging opponent in Japan. The match was closely contested, with both teams showcasing their skills until the final minutes. Unfortunately for France, two late goals from Mei Hanashiro in the 88th and 93rd minutes dashed their hopes of a draw and left them with a bitter taste of disappointment.
Despite this setback, the French squad remains in contention for a place in the knockout stages of the tournament. They will need to secure victory against Zambia in their next and final group stage match scheduled for Saturday at 20:00. This upcoming encounter will be crucial for the team's aspirations to advance to the round of 16.
Goals:
- 1-0, Mei Hanashiro (88th minute): After a pass from Mashiro Yamaji, Fuki Oto threaded the ball through to Hanashiro, who skillfully maneuvered into the penalty area and executed a lobbed shot, finding the back of the net with precision.
- 2-0, Mei Hanashiro (90+3rd minute): In a moment of miscommunication, Noélie Chovin inadvertently redirected a ball towards Hanashiro, allowing her to penetrate the penalty area and score with a low shot past the French goalkeeper.
Coach Franck Plenecassagne's Reaction: "The outcome is a bit cruel; the girls performed well in terms of both play and attitude. We were pleased with their efforts, but conceding a goal in the 88th minute leaves us with some regrets. In matches like these, mistakes can be costly, and we made one that cost us dearly, despite having effectively neutralized the Japanese attack. Nevertheless, Japan created more opportunities than we did, and we must acknowledge that. There is frustration and disappointment, but I reiterate that our performance was solid, and we will prepare diligently for the match against Zambia on Saturday to secure our qualification for the next round. Everyone is available for selection, and we are looking to balance the playing time as well."
The upcoming matches in Group D will be pivotal as teams vie for a spot in the knockout rounds. The standings currently show Japan leading with 6 points, while France sits in second place with 3 points, making the next match against Zambia crucial for their aspirations.
As reported by fff.fr.
