Match Report
New Zealand U23 went into the game 3rd in the table on 3 points; France U23 sat 1st on 9 — a 6-point gap. New Zealand U23 had been under-performing their position — 9th on five-round form against 3rd in the table. Scoring rates set the scale: New Zealand U23 1 scored and 2.67 conceded per game, France U23 2.33 and 0, with the league averaging 1.35.
Defeat had not touched France U23 in 7 games, having scored in 7 consecutive games.
The match was played at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille (capacity 67,395). Half-time and full-time told different stories: France U23 led 1-0 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 0-3.