France slams door on Canada at World Cup: A fan's reaction

Posted Friday, July 01, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

The French women's soccer team handed Canada a 4-nil blowout in World Cup play June 30. It was the biggest win yet at the 2011 edition. The fixture was expected to be a close affair, with both sides seen to have comparable striking ability, with Canada perhaps having a slight edge.

It's the second big surprise from Germany, the first being Norway's escape from a strong performance by Equatorial Guinea. That game was seen to be a chance for Norway to run up some points to count for differential, instead it escaped with just a 1-0 win.

The match between France and Canada no one expected to be a points-differential event, but that's the way it ended up. With the 4-0 win, France, at least for a little while, tops Group A substantially.

The scoring started off on in the 24th minute on a goal from "Player of the Match" Gaetane Thiney, who would find the back of the net again in the 59th for a brace. That one was set up by Marie-Laure Delie, whose challenge to Canada's Emily Zurrer forced a missed clearance.

Canada frustrated

Christine Sinclair, the star Canadian striker, seemed a little off her game, but who could blame her. She was wearing a face mask to protect her nose, which was broken in the opening match against Germany.

The most frustrating moment for the Canucks was probably the 65th, when Jonelle Filgino, having beat a defender, stepped on the ball and tripped with only the keeper to beat.

Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod did have the save of the tournament so far, denying Louisa Necib with a fine dive to palm the ball out of danger in the 31st.

France puts it away

Just a minute after the miss, a fine corner feed came in to a slightly unmarked Camille Abily just one minute after Filgino failed to score for Canada. It was doubly sweet for Abily, as it was her footwork on the ball that set up the corner.

The match that featured the best save yet also saw one of the tournament's most beautiful goals to make it 4-0. Necib had the ball, delayed just right, then lobbed it to substitute Elodie Thomis. Left with the open shot, Thomis put it away.

In a group most picked Germany to win and Canada to come in second, Les Bleues said "not so fast!"

If Germany beats Nigeria later today, Canada is eliminated while France and Germany will move ahead, regardless of the outcome of its game against each other July 5. Still, the match will likely determine who is at the top of Group A and which side is runner-up.