France edged Brazil 2-1 in a thrilling group encounter at Suncorp Stadium on July 29, 49,378 fans treated to a proper battle royal between two of the foremost contenders at the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals. There were no holds barred from the outset in this one, both teams at it hammer and tongs in a ferocious start to a match in which a Brazil win would leave France with just one point from two games - in short, this was a must-win fixture for "Les Bleus", and they played accordingly. Within five minutes, they fired the first shot in anger, Sandie Toletti's drive being dealt with by Leticia after Grace Geyoro and Kadidiatou Diani had combined on the right. Sixty seconds later, France had penalty appeals turned away by Australian referee Kate Jacewicz after Sakina Karchaoui went down in the area under Antonia's challenge right in front of the official. Brazil's response was led by Geyse, who quickly closed down Pauline Peyraud-Magnin as Maelle Lakrar passed the ball back to her goalkeeper, forcing an error. France survived, but only after resorting to foul means rather than fair to avert the danger, Kenza Dali taking one for the team on this occasion. Dali was soon joining a French attack, played in by Eugenie Le Sommer on the right. The striker went dashing off towards goal in anticipation of a cross, and when it arrived, Le Sommer's header drew a brilliant save from Leticia in the thirteenth minute. Brazil responded via Adriana, whose thirty-five yard free-kick flew past Peyraud-Magnin's right-hand post, a threat to which "Les Bleus" responded by scoring a fabulous opening goal in the seventeenth minute. Toletti played the ball wide to Karchaoui, whose angled cross picked out Diani on the far post. She headed the ball inside to Le Sommer, who, despite being in between defenders, managed to guide a sumptuous header beyond Leticia to the delight of her team-mates. "Selecao" should have equalised six minutes later. Wendie Renard's clearance richocheted off Karchaoui straight to Ary Borges, who managed to get her pass away despite being clattered into by the already booked Dali - she was treading a very fine line at this point in proceedings. Debinha was the recipient of the pass, and evaded a challenge before setting up Geyse on the edge of the penalty area, from where she steered her shot over the angle of left-hand post and bar, when hitting the target was the minimum requirement - a bad miss. France was next to threaten, Leticia blocking superbly at the feet of Geyoro on the half-hour, the only opportunity of note in a roughly twenty-minute spell during which the frenetic pace of the opening stanza finally reduced to a level at which both teams could at least draw breath. Just before half-time, Peyraud-Magnin grabbed a long-range effort from Antonia, while Diani just failed to control the ball after a lovely move featuring Le Sommer, Geyoro and Karchaoui, who was making great in-roads as an overlapping left fullback in this encounter. Brazil needed to make in-roads on the scoreboard in the second spell, and did so after 58 minutes. They had been on top since the resumption of play, so much so that France seemed to still be in the dressing room, such was their opponents' dominance. It gained its reward following a terrific break and

cross from Geyse. Ary Borges played the ball in to Kerolin, whose shot ricocheted to Debinha. She found herself one-on-one with Peyraud-Magnin - a more accomplished finish in such a situation you will not see - 1-1. France responded eight minutes later, Vicki Becho's introduction given them renewed vigour. Karchaoui picked her out with a pass which the newcomer turned into the stride of Geyoro, whose shot was tipped over the bar by Leticia. Cue the resumption of helter-skelter action, with France piling on the pressure. Dali's blocked shot rebounded to Debinha, who dashed downfield but ran up a cul de sac with the unmarked Kerolin racing up in support on her left. Instantly, "Les Bleus" counter-attacked, Karchaoui leading the charge before picking out Becho. Her cross created chaos in the heart of Brazil's defence, the ball ricocheting off Lauren to Rafaelle, whose attempted clearance canned off Lauren to safety. Back came Brazil, Debinha leading the charge again, this time crossing for Ary Borges, who set up Adriana for an opportunity which was swiftly snuffed out by Lakrar. Debinha responded with a free-kick which resulted in Kerolin's acute-angled flick flying narrowly past the post. France responded from the resulting goal kick, Toletti picking out Selma Bacha, who battered the side-netting after bettering an opponent. The resulting goal kick found its way to Ary Borges, who was stopped in her tracks by Karchaoui's tackle. She raced downfield, only to undo all her good work with a wayward pass. Unperturbed, the French quickly regained possession, only for Toletti to be foiled by Leticia as she looked to work a one-two with Diani. The ball was quickly sent to the other end of the park, where the formidable figure of Renard foiled attempts by Debinha and Luana to break the deadlock with twelve minutes remaining. Five minutes later, parity on the scoreboard was no longer the case. Bacha delivered a corner beyond the far post, and found the unmarked Renard stealing in round the back of Brazil's defence. (As if a 6'3 inch colossus could ever go anywhere without being noticed!) It happened on this occasion, however, Brazil paying a heavy price for ignoring Renard's movement off the ball. The towering defender directed a downward angled header into the turf and up into the top far corner of the net to restore France's lead - 2-1. Brazil threw caution to the wind as they sought an equaliser, but not even the introduction of Marta could save them this time. Indeed, but for Leticia's flying save to keep out a long-range effort from substitute Lea Le Garrec, things could have been worse still for "Selecao". But France fulfilled their objective in this must-win match, leaving themselves in the box seat to finish top of the group and advance to the next round, while it's Brazil who are now in must-win territory, Jamaica standing between them and place in the knockout phase of the Finals. France:          Peyraud-Magnin; Perisset, Lakrar, Renard, Karchaoui (booked, 69); Geyoro, Toletti (booked, 29), Dali (booked, 11 (Le Garrec, 87)); Diani, Le Sommer (Becho, 65), Bacha Brazil:          Leticia; Antonia (Monica, 85), Lauren, Rafaelle, Tamires; Ary Borges (Ana Victoria, 85), Kerolin, Luana (booked, 44), Adriana (Bia Zaneratto, 80); Debinha (Marta, 85), Geyse (Andressa, 61) Referee:     Kate Jacewicz (Australia)