Thomis inspires 5-star France

Substitute Elodie Thomis scored one and made another two as France responded to their opening match defeat with a thumping 5-0 win over Korea DPR at Hampden Park. Thomis’ pace proved too much for the North Koreans to handle and secured a lopsided result that leaves Les Bleues’ level with their Asian opponents on three points, but with a vastly superior goal difference. In a first half of few chances, France threatened first after 23 minutes when the towering Wendie Renard rose highest at a Sandrine Soubeyrand corner to bullet in a header. The ball seemed destined for the corner of the net but Yun Song-Mi, stationed on the right-hand post, sprung across the line to bundle the ball clear. Having nearly scored at one end, Renard was then called into action at the other, booting the ball to safety from a goal-bound Ri Ye-Gyong shot after goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi had spilled a through ball and been left stranded on the edge of her box. Opportunities remained at a premium but, just as half-time was looming with the teams deadlocked, France took the lead. Again, the threat came from a Soubeyrand corner, floated to the back post, with Laura Georges on this occasion charging in powerfully to head home from close range. France were just about deserving of their narrow lead at that stage but, if the first half had been tight, the second was all one-way traffic. The introduction of speedy winger Thomis provided Bruno Bini’s side with the cutting edge they had been lacking, and it was the Lyon player who made it 2-0, racing on to a Louisa Necib pass and drilling a low shot beyond Jo-Yun Mi at her near post. Then, just a minute later, Thomis turned creator, again using her pace to bolt down the right and cut the ball back for Delie to slot home from close range. With the North Koreans demoralised, France ran away with it in the closing stages, Renard bulleting home another Soubeyrand corner before substitute Camille Catala completed the rout by heading in an excellent looping cross from the inspirational Thomis. FIFA.