France opens Women’s World Cup with rout

There’s no secret there is a whole lot of pressure on France in this World Cup.

Aside from being the host nation, France is one of the top teams in the world that has shown signs of breaking through in past international tournaments. All these factors present a unique challenge, though also a unique opportunity for exposure for Les Bleues.

Opening the tournament against South Korea on Friday in Paris, France showed they are more than up to the challenge. Led by the deep play-making of captain Amandine Henry and Wedie Renard’s brace, France jumped on South Korea from the start and never looked back, and they opened up the tournament with a convincing 4-0 win.

It took the host just nine minutes to assert themselves. Henry dribbled into the penalty area, sent a cross to the top of the box, Eugenie Le Sommer came in, one-timed a shot that was touched by keeper Kim Jung-mi and went off the crossbar, but crossed the goal line for the first goal of the World Cup.

France was just getting started. Les Bleues thought they had a second goal in the 26th minute. Henry played a long ball into the box, Renard headed a ball to Griedge Mbock Bathy, who shot a ball past Jung-mi near post to double the lead. However, video review made its debut, which in this instance was used to determine whether or not Mbock Bathy was offside. While it looked like Mbock Bathy was onside, the referees determined otherwise, and the goal was called back.

France however shook off the controversial no-goal and got that second goal in the 35th minute, as Gaetene Thiney sent a corner kick into the penalty area and Renard headed the ball past Jung-mi near post. Renard scored off the corner again in stoppage time in the first half, with Amel Majri sending the corner in and just like that, France was up 3-0. The second half was mere window dressing for France, and Henry capped off a spectacular opening for France with a spectacular goal, as she lobbed a 20-foot volley that sailed past Jung-mi far post for a wonder goal.