More than a win: France find their feet against Ecuador

• France dug deep to edge Ecuador 3-2 in Sosnowiec

• Centre-backs Landryna Lushimba and Aude Bizet emerged as unlikely comeback heroes

• The defensive duo, coach Philippe Joly and midfielder Clara Bertrand reflect on a potentially pivotal victory

Arena Sosnowiec played host to one of the most gripping matches of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026™ so far on Wednesday. The match-up between tournament regulars France and an Ecuador team that had been turning heads for months more than lived up to expectations, delivering drama and twists at every turn.

Trailing 2-1 at half-time to a clinical Ecuador side, Les Tricolores looked short of answers. Philippe Joly turned to his bench, bringing on Lina Gay and Celia Chabod and urging his players to commit more numbers forward, even if it meant leaving themselves exposed.

“A draw wasn’t enough for us after our first result [a 1-1 draw with Korea Republic],” said the former assistant to ex-France women’s senior team coach Corinne Diacre. “So we switched things up slightly, and the girls responded brilliantly. There’s a real hunger in this group, and their team spirit was outstanding.”

With France in trouble, their leaders rose to the occasion. The lively Justine Rouquet had won and converted a first-half penalty, but it was not enough to shift the momentum. Then Aude Bizet and Landryna Lushimba took over. Bizet met Juliane Denizot’s free-kick to level in the 48th minute, before Lushimba turned home Ornella Graziani’s corner three minutes from time.

“I’m just grateful to God because I could really feel it coming,” Lushimba told FIFA after the final whistle. “We stuck together, and this was a real team win. It wasn’t just about me; every one of us put in the work. I’m so happy.”

“We had trouble finishing our chances,” said Bizet, who captained the side and picked up the Player of the Match award. “Games like this make us stronger, and we’ll be ready for whatever comes next.”

France looked like a different team after the break, going from tentative to commanding and showcasing both their depth and resilience under pressure. They have now gone behind three times in this tournament and battled back each time. That is no accident.

“Every player on the bench is capable of starting," said Clara Bertrand, one of France’s standout performers in midfield. "We have a strong squad, and today it was two centre-backs who scored from set-pieces. Naturally, we’re thrilled."

“At the end of the day, they (the players) decide how much they want to win,” Joly continued. “I can put a plan in place, but my role is simply to support them. They stood together and played for one another. Before the game, I asked them: ‘Today we’re playing a grown-up game. Are you ready for that?’ Eleven members of my squad were born in 2007. The other ten, born in 2006, weren’t all guaranteed to start. The players gave me their answer today. Yes, they were ready.”

France’s future opponents have been warned about their threat from dead-ball situations. Set-pieces proved decisive against Ecuador, who struggled with both the quality of the deliveries and the aerial power of Lushimba and her team-mates.

“We work on them a lot, so it’s great to see that paying off in matches,” said Bizet.

“The quality of the delivery is crucial too,” Joly added. “Today we put dangerous balls into the box and made the runs we’ve been working on. Hopefully, there’s more to come.”

France’s campaign is now well and truly under way. After coming through a breathless contest, Les Bleuettes may feel this is where their tournament truly began.