France to show they mean business

The Woman’s World Cup kicks off this Friday as France take on South Korea in Paris. The hosts will be looking to show their weight but can they get off to the perfect start? Have a read of our preview and find out:

A look at France

France crashed out of the last tournament in the quarter-finals when they lost on penalties to Germany, a feeling most England fans will be able to sympathise with. This time though, they are aiming to be a real contender with the backing of a host nation behind them.

Corinne Diacre is a talented coach and will be sure to keep complacency out of the picture on opening night. Often compared to Didier Deschamps, Diacre has a very strong squad to choose from. She was the first woman to coach a men’s team having been in charge of Ligue 2 outfit Clermont Foot and has made some strong choices with regard to squad selection leaving out Marie Katoto, Ligue 1’s top scorer, as she looks for a balance in order to win the tournament.

France should be confident as they can call upon many players from Champions League winners Lyon and, indeed, the spine of their team will be made up their players. One of them, Amandine Henry, is considered their star player. The 29-year-old captain is the engine in midfield with plenty of experience to push Les Blues to greatness this summer.

A look at South Korea

The aim for South Korea will be to progress into the knockout stages. They have been making great strides and have players in Ji So-yun and Cho So-hyun who have come off excellent campaigns with Chelsea and West Ham respectively.

The big problem for South Korea Woman is the defence looks very vulnerable and prone to a mistake or two. This does not bode well against a France side known for their attacking ability and prowess.

Nevertheless, in Ji So-yun Korea have a player that has been picked for the the PFA Team of the Year for the last four years and was voted PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2015. Most of the attacking play goes through her and, much like Son in the men’s team, she has the ability to win games on her own.

Women’s World Cup France vs South Korea betting tip

Despite the improvements made by the South Korean Women, this game is set-up for France to really show their credentials. They have players who can score all over the pitch and a coach whose determination and drive should be passed on to her players on the pitch. Therefore, backing France to win by four or more goals at odds of 11/4 may not be a bad shout.

Bet France to win by four or more goals on Bet365