Juba Touabi, Media365: published on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 23:12
For a long time, thanks to Marie-Antoinette Katoto, the French women’s team finally ended up drawing against the Netherlands (1-1) this Saturday in Auxerre, during the 4th day of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup. A frustrating result for the French.
Dominating doesn’t always mean winning. At the Abbé-Deschamps stadium, the Bleues delivered a generally controlled performance, but failed to make a difference on the scoreboard. From the start, Laurent Bonadei’s players tried to set the pace, with majority possession and several interesting situations. However, it wasn’t until the very end of the first half that this dominance was rewarded. From a poorly cleared corner, Marie-Antoinette Katoto headed in (45th+1) and smashed the ball into the back of the net.
A cruel scenario for the Bleues
Upon returning from the locker rooms, the situation remained the same. The French continued to push, launching offensives without being sharp enough. Kadidiatou Diani, then Sakina Karchaoui, took their chances, while Geyoro almost doubled with a curling shot (79th). Ultimately, the Netherlands showed clinical realism. On their first real opportunity of the second half, Wieke Kaptein equalized with a precise header (76th). A blow for the dominant Bleues.
Despite an intense end to the match and several close calls, including a missed opportunity by Melvine Malard (88th), France failed to regain the lead. This 1-1 draw allows the Netherlands to remain at the top of the group, while the Bleues lag behind with regrets over their performance.
