THE day after the other Women’s World Cup co-favorite looked incredible, France nearly looked calamitous.

Eugenie Le Sommer’s penalty in the 72nd minute helped the French overcome Wendie Renard’s inexplicable own goal and beat Norway 2-1 in Nice.

Many viewed Wednesday’s Group A match as a chance for France to make a statement of its own after the United States’ demolition of Thailand the day before. That didn’t really materialize, but for understandable reasons. Norway may not have its best player this tournament, but it’s still a top-10 side that was very composed for most of the 90 minutes. In short, it’s not Thailand.

Renard is arguably the world’s best defender, and it’s anyone’s guess what she was thinking here. Maybe she was trying to tap it out of bounds to avoid any chance of Norway pouncing on it. Regardless, Eugenie Le Sommer seized back the lead with a penalty in the 72nd minute, and Renard likely breathed a sigh of relief.

Video Assistant Referee rewarded the spot kick after determining Norway’s Ingrid Engen clipped Marion Torrent with her studs on a dangerous challenge.(SD-Agencies)