The French women’s national team is gearing up for their first match of the 2024 Olympic Games, as they prepare to take on Colombia at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon on Thursday. This Group A encounter marks the beginning of both teams’ campaigns in the prestigious tournament.
Match Preview
France, the tournament hosts, are making their return to the Olympic stage after an eight-year absence. Their last appearance in 2016 saw them reach the quarter-finals. The team will be eager to improve upon their previous performances, having reached the semi-finals in their Olympic debut in 2012.
Les Bleues enter the competition with high expectations, following their recent qualification for Euro 2025. However, they will be looking to bounce back from a surprising 3-1 defeat to Ireland in their final qualifier.
Colombia, on the other hand, impressed at last year’s World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals after notable victories over South Korea and Germany. They will be aiming to build on that success and progress beyond the group stage for the first time in their Olympic history.
Team News Injury and Lineups
France’s head coach Hervé Renard has had to make some tough decisions due to the limited 18-player squad size for the Olympics. Notable omissions include Solene Durand, Eve Perisset, Lea Le Garrec, and Vicki Becho, who have been placed on the reserve list despite featuring in recent Euro 2025 qualifiers.
France’s Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dali, Geyoro, Karchaoui, De Almeida, Katoto, Bacha, Mbock, Diani, Peyraud-Magnin, Renard, Henry
Colombia’s Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Vanegas, Restrepo, Baron, Caicedo, Carabali, Usme, Ramirez, Santos, C Arias, Montoya, Perez
Where to Watch
Fans around the world can catch this exciting Olympic matchup on various platforms. Here’s a breakdown of the TV and live-streaming options for some countries:
- France: Eurosport Player France, Eurosport France, Molotov, Free, MAX, France 2
- Colombia: RCN Television, Caracol Play, Caracol TV, Deportes RCN En Vivo
- USA: fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Telemundo
- UK: discovery+, discovery+ App, EuroSport Player UK, EuroSport 1 UK
- Spain: Eurosport Player Spain, Eurosport Spain
- Germany: Eurosport Player Deutschland
Form and Statistics
France’s recent form has been somewhat inconsistent. They secured qualification for Euro 2025 but suffered a setback with their loss to Ireland. Their last five matches have resulted in three wins and two losses.
Colombia’s form leading up to the Olympics has been impressive. They’ve won four of their last five matches, including victories over New Zealand and Mexico in friendly encounters.
Head-to-Head
The two teams have met on four previous occasions, with France holding the upper hand. Their last encounter in April 2023 saw France emerge victorious with a 5-2 win in a friendly match. However, their most recent competitive meeting at the 2015 World Cup ended in a surprising 2-0 victory for Colombia.
Prediction
Given France’s home advantage and overall squad strength, they are favored to win this opening match. However, Colombia’s recent performances suggest they could pose a significant challenge.
France Women vs Colombia Women Prediction: France Women 2-0 Colombia Women
As the Olympic football tournament kicks off, both teams will be eager to start their campaigns on a positive note. The match promises to be an exciting encounter between two talented sides with different playing styles and ambitions for the tournament.
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