Despite a successful run in international play over the past few years, France has been in turmoil behind the scenes. In March, the French federation fired its longtime coach, Corinne Diacre, after players complained of an unhealthy environment on the team.
Hervé Renard, a well-traveled coach but one who had never led a women’s team, has worked to steady the ship.
But Jamaica, a team playing in its second World Cup, stifled that run on Sunday, earning its first ever point in the standings with an unlikely draw against France, 0-0. Jamaica had to use crowdfunding websites to raise money for the team’s trip to Australia and New Zealand, and lost all three of its games in the group stage in 2019.