Tactical tweaks and big personnel changes - how did France turn around final group game?

Breaking down the 5-2 win over the Netherlands which earned Les Bleus top spot in Group D

Sakina Karchaoui celebrates France’s fifth goal against the Netherlands. Credit: Uefa/Uefa via Getty Images

In a frantic finish to Group D, France defeated the Netherlands 5-2 to claim top spot and secure a quarter-final tie against Germany.

It was an impressive performance from Les Bleus, who had to come back from a 2-1 deficit to make it three wins from three.

French captain Sandie Toletti opened the scoring on her birthday in the 22nd minute before the momentum swung in Netherlands’ favour. Andries Jonker’s side scored twice in 15 minutes to take the lead at half-time. Victoria Pelova was at the heart of both goals, scoring the first and creating havoc for the second.

The second half started off in a similar fashion until the French went into ballistic mode. Laurent Bonadei’s side scored three times between the 61st and 67th minutes, destroying the Dutch wall. Delphine Cascarino transcended all around her and was involved in all three of those goals, scoring twice. The misery continued as Sakina Karchaoui scored a penalty in the final minutes to make it five.

A game of tactical tweaks

Both sides made changes to their starting XIs. Jonker decided to bench all-time top goalscorer Vivianne Miedema and gave a start to veteran midfielder Sherida Spitse in central defence. Barcelona star Esmee Brugts was also left on the bench as Netherlands started in a 4-3-3 formation.

Bonadei left out star midfielder Grace Geyoro and the talismanic Kadidiatou Diani in favour of Chelsea’s Orianne Jean-Francois and Cascarino. The French midfield of Toletti, Karchaoui and Jean-Francois was geared towards the defence playing a high line. A novel idea which backfired.