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Jamaica manager Lorne Donaldson hailed “the number one result” in his country’s football history after they held France, one of the favourites for the Fifa Women’s World Cup, to a goalless draw.
Herve Renard’s France could not break down a disciplined Jamaica, for whom the only dampener amid heavy rain at Sydney Football Stadium was having captain Khadija Shaw sent off late on.
This was Jamaica’s first point at a Women’s World Cup – and it came against a side 38 places higher in the Fifa rankings.
“It’s a real victorious feeling for us,” said player of the match Deneisha Blackwood, while her manager hailed it as the greatest football result for any Jamaica team.
“I would say it is the number one result we have had so far,” said Donaldson. “The number one result, men or women.
“Just look at the rankings. You would say this result, on this stage, has to be number one.”
France, meanwhile, must now regroup for their meeting with fellow Group F favourites Brazil on 29 July.
They came close to scoring in the first half when Kadidiatou Diani had a near-post drive scooped away by Becky Spencer before a deflected effort which flashed past the post.
Diani then twice headed narrowly wide before hitting the crossbar and post late in the second half, but Jamaica were roared on to a draw by the locals and neutrals as the latest smaller nation to impress at these finals.
French optimism dampened in Sydney rain
Having fallen at the quarter-finals in the past three World Cups, this has been pegged as the tournament for France to go deeper.
After the tempestuous Corinne Diacre reign – ended in March when captain Wendie Renard and several team mates threated not to play at the World Cup at all – good feeling had returned around the French camp under new manager Renard.
But they were blunted in Sydney by a Jamaica defence which pressed hard and well, although the manager called for calm and perspective.
“I’ve won competitions after drawing the first games,” he said. “I don’t think we should be getting ahead of ourselves. What’s important is to be solid. We are going to look to find and gain what we came to do.
“I wasn’t satisfied after the first half, but congratulated them after the second. Sometimes in these games you have to be happy with a draw, rather than being ambushed by the other team.”
Renard masterminded Saudi Arabia’s shock win over Argentina at the men’s World Cup last year, but said there was no comparison here despite finding himself on the other side of an upset.
“We deserved to win; they didn’t get any chances,” he said. “They did their best, played a good game, but [it] was completely different.”
Jamaica joy punctured by Shaw red
In attack, Jamaica had one tactic – hit main striker Shaw as soon as possible. Given the talents of ‘Bunny’, who scored 31 goals in 30 games last season for Manchester City, their approach was not surprising.
Her presence alone was enough to stop France throwing too much forward, and a 35-yard free-kick fired inches wide in the first half showed her skills.
But she was also booked for a late tackle on Sakina Karchaoui in the first half, before a clumsy challenge on Wendie Renard in the frantic dying seconds saw her sent off.
Having already gone better than their Women’s World Cup debut in 2019 – where they lost all three matches – Jamaica know victory over Panama in their next match will give them genuine hope of a last-16 place.
But losing their captain, top scorer and talisman for that game is a blow.
“Yeah, it’s tough,” Spencer said of losing Shaw for the Panama match. “Obviously we know what she brings.
“But what I do know is we have other strikers that can cause a threat. They are good up there too so I’m confident they will come in and do a great job.”
Player of the match
BrownJody Brown
France
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Squad number9Player nameLe SommerAverage rating
6.74
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Squad number15Player nameDaliAverage rating
6.71
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Squad number20Player nameCascarino
Average rating6.52
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Squad number11Player nameDiani
Average rating6.35
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Squad number16Player namePeyraud-Magnin
Average rating6.26
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Squad number12Player nameMatéo
Average rating6.23
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Squad number7Player nameKarchaoui
Average rating6.22
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Squad number6Player nameToletti
Average rating6.14
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Squad number8Player nameGeyoro
Average rating6.12
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Squad number23Player nameBècho
Average rating5.82
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Squad number3Player nameRenard
Average rating5.82
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Squad number2Player nameLakrar
Average rating5.71
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Squad number10Player nameMajri
Average rating5.42
Jamaica
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Squad number10Player nameBrown
Average rating8.57
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Squad number19Player nameWiltshire
Average rating8.52
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Squad number8Player nameSpence
Average rating8.52
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Squad number3Player nameSampson
Average rating8.51
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Squad number21Player nameMatthews
Average rating8.44
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Squad number13Player nameSpencer
Average rating8.38
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Squad number14Player nameBlackwood
Average rating8.27
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Squad number20Player namePrimus
Average rating8.25
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Squad number4Player nameSwaby
Average rating8.22
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Squad number17Player nameSwaby
Average rating8.17
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Squad number11Player nameShaw
Average rating7.56
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Squad number6Player nameSolaun
Average rating6.90
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Squad number2Player nameWashington
Average rating6.71
Line-ups
France
Formation 4-4-2
- 16Peyraud-Magnin
- 2Lakrar
- 3Renard
- 20Cascarino
- 7Karchaoui
- 12MatéoBooked at 14minsSubstituted forDaliat 66′minutes
- 8Geyoro
- 6Toletti
- 10MajriSubstituted forBèchoat 66′minutes
- 11Diani
- 9Le Sommer
Substitutes
- 1Durand
- 4Fazer
- 13Bacha
- 14Tounkara
- 15Dali
- 17Le Garrec
- 18Asseyi
- 19Feller
- 21Picaud
- 22Périsset
- 23Bècho
Jamaica
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 13Spencer
- 19Wiltshire
- 17Swaby
- 4Swaby
- 14Blackwood
- 21MatthewsSubstituted forSolaunat 71′minutes
- 8Spence
- 3Sampson
- 10Brown
- 20PrimusBooked at 24minsSubstituted forWashingtonat 71′minutes
- 11ShawBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Schneider
- 2Washington
- 5Plummer
- 6Solaun
- 7McNamara
- 9Simmonds
- 12van Zanten
- 15Cameron
- 16Bailey-Gayle
- 18Carter
- 22McKenna
- 23Brooks
- Referee:
- María Carvajal
- Attendance:
- 39,045
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, France 0, Jamaica 0.
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Second Half ends, France 0, Jamaica 0.
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Foul by Kenza Dali (France).
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Drew Spence (Jamaica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Kenza Dali (France) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Eugénie Le Sommer (France) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Vicki Bècho with a cross.
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Second yellow card to Khadija Shaw (Jamaica) for a bad foul.
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Wendie Renard (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Khadija Shaw (Jamaica).
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Kadidiatou Diani (France) hits the bar with a header from very close range. Assisted by Vicki Bècho with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Maëlle Lakrar (France) with an attempt from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by Kenza Dali with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, France. Conceded by Tiernny Wiltshire.
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Attempt blocked. Khadija Shaw (Jamaica) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Jamaica. Conceded by Estelle Cascarino.
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Hand ball by Sakina Karchaoui (France).
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Corner, France. Conceded by Drew Spence.
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Attempt missed. Wendie Renard (France) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sakina Karchaoui with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, France. Conceded by Tiernny Wiltshire.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Khadija Shaw (Jamaica).