France vs Norway, Women's World Cup 2019: VAR penalty saves hosts after Wendie Renard own goal

France 2-1 Norway: Hosts secure back-to-back wins thanks to controversial VAR spot-kick

This was not a victory with the same style or panache of the United States in Reims on Tuesday night. Nor was it as straightforward as the 4-0 thumping of South Korea on opening night. In fact, some of Friday’s giddier assessments may need to be revised.

But France are nevertheless two for two with one foot in the knock-out stages of their Women’s World Cup. This victory over Norway was deserved but also hard-earned, by a team that refused to live up to its unwanted reputation and fold in on itself.

Wendie Renard’s calamitous own goal at the start of the second half, not long after Valerie Gauvin had put the host nation in front, could have easily derailed France. If not for video technology and the renaissance of strict refereeing, it may have.

Instead, Corinne Diacre’s hopefuls were given a reprieve. Ingrid Engen was penalised – harshly, perhaps – for catching Marion Torrent in an attempt to play the ball. Eugenie Le Sommer converted from the spot to keep the hosts in command of Group A.

This was billed as the game which would likely decide the group’s winner, but given that whoever comes out on top is likely to face the United States as early as the quarter-finals, perhaps losing it was no bad thing.

Thankfully, neither side took that attitude and though the first half ended goalless, it was not for a lack of quick, daring play. Norway started with particular purpose, threatening several times in the opening exchanges.

France, on the other hand, failed to attempt a single shot at goal in the opening quarter-of-an-hour. In the quarter-of-an-hour that followed, they had six. Many came through the good work of Kadidiatou Diani, a livewire on the right.

Unfortunately, Gauvin was not on her wavelength. Though restored to the starting line-up after her indiscipline issues of last week, she mistimed several runs, finding herself too far ahead of Diani’s intelligent cut-backs.

The half ended without either goalkeeper straining to make a save but the next began with a goal. A mere minute after the restart, Gauvin got her timing right, beating Maria Thorisdottir to a cross from the left and sweeping home.

With their team a goal up, the Allianz Riviera’s partisan crowd now expected all three points. Few, if any, were prepared for what followed.

Renard has a reputation for calm and collected defending, built on her years of stewarding Olympique Lyonnais’ defence, though her composure deserted her when Isabell Herlovesen cut a speculative pass across the face of the French goal.

An attempt to send the ball behind for a corner failed miserably. Renard instead diverted the ball inside the post. It was a horrendous error, only magnified as it was made by such an accomplished player.

Her blushes would be spared, however, and by video technology. A quarter-of-an-hour later, Engen’s swinging right foot caught Torrent high, on the thigh and inside Norway’s penalty area.

It was a similar offence to Nothando Vilakazi’s in South Africa’s defeat to Spain at the weekend. Accidental? Yes. But dangerous play by the strict letter of the law? Yes, also. Like in Le Havre on Saturday, what the referee missed, VAR punished.

Le Sommer’s penalty was low and to the bottom left. Hjelmseth guessed correctly, but moved to late to reach it. The Allianz Riviera’s celebrations came with a sigh of relief. Renard sighed a little longer than any of them.