France crushes Latvia in friendly at Laval, a showcase

France's Bleues confirm their authority ahead of the 2027 World Cup by unleashing a torrent of nine goals on Latvia, 104th in the FIFA rankings, in a friendly match in Laval this Saturday, a result that Sakina Karchaoui described as an “extraordinary display”.

Lightning‑fast first half

Kadiatou Diani opened the scoring in the seventh minute, followed two minutes later by Anaële Le Moguédec, who capitalised on a major back‑hand error by Latvian goalkeeper Elza Strazdina. Melvine Malard netted the third goal in the twentieth minute, then Grace Geyoro doubled the lead in the thirty‑first, before Le Moguédec scored in the fortieth minute and Océane Hurtré converted a penalty in the forty‑first, bringing the total to six before halftime.

At halftime, coach Laurent Bonadei made nine substitutions, bringing goalkeeper Constance Picaud onto the field. Only Grace Geyoro and Anaële Le Moguédec remained on the pitch, but they were also taken off shortly after play resumed.

Kelly Gago scored the seventh goal in the fifty‑nine minute, followed by Clara Mateo in the sixty‑sixth. Marie‑Antoinette Katoto sealed the match in the eighty‑third minute, locking in the final tally of nine goals.

This fixture was the only one available in a very narrow international window for both sides. France, already among the four European nations qualified for the 2027 World Cup, took advantage of the match, while Latvia, eliminated, had no other commitments.