France edges closer to place in quarter-finals after resounding defeat of Wales

Clara Mateo was involved in three goals as France closed in on the Women’s European Championship quarterfinal places with a 4-1 win over Wales on Wednesday, July 9. The Paris FC forward opened the scoring, was fouled for the penalty that Kadidiatou Diani converted, and then set up Amel Majri for the third goal. France captain Grace Geyoro sealed the result in the 63^rd. It was France’s 10^th consecutive win this year.

France tops Group D with six points, three more than England and the Netherlands, while Wales remains bottom with zero points after two games on its tournament debut. England revived its title defense following its opening loss to France by beating the Netherlands 4-0 earlier Wednesday. England plays Wales in their final group match on Sunday.

France will win the group if it avoids defeat against the Dutch at the same time. “Nothing is set. We know when we have a game, we play it to win,” said Majri, the player of the match after her first European Championship appearance. The Lyon great missed Euro 2017 through injury and the last edition in 2022 after the birth of her daughter.

“I’ve always looked forward to playing at a Women’s Euro, so I’m really happy,” Majri said. “It was a great performance as well from Clara Mateo.”

France coach Laurent Bonadei made a host of changes to his lineup with only four players including the goalkeeper starting again from the 2-1 win over England. Alice Sombath and newcomer Thiniba Samoura, both 21, formed France women’s youngest ever central-defensive partnership at a major tournament.

Oldest player ever to score goal

Mateo, another change, fired the favorites into an early lead with a fine finish after a corner, but Jess Fishlock equalized in the 14^th when she prodded the ball inside the right post. It was Wales’ first goal at a European Championship – scored by the team’s oldest player.

UEFA said Fishlock, 38 years and 176 days old, became the oldest player ever to score at the tournament, beating the record previously held by Northern Ireland’s Julie Nelson, who was 37 years and 33 days old when she scored at the last edition.

“I guess I’ll take that as a compliment!” Fishlock told broadcaster ITV. “I couldn’t get these accolades without my entire team behind me, so I’m very grateful, and maybe after the tournament I’ll let that sink in a little bit more.”

Welsh celebrations were unbridled and the goal seemed to knock the French players off their stride. It took some time before they recovered. Then Ceri Holland conceded a penalty for a foul on Mateo in the 44^th, and Diani scored with a weakly taken spot kick that went in off Wales goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel’s legs before the break.

A mistake from Middleton-Patel after the interval led to the third goal with Mateo winning the ball off the goalkeeper and laying it back for Majri to score in the 53^rd. Middleton-Patel should have stopped Diani’s cross, but it fell for Geyoro to complete the scoring.