The star striker of the France team Marie-Antoinette Katoto, seriously injured in a knee last year, is forfeited for the World Cup this summer, AFP learned on Tuesday from sources close to the player and the Bleues. The 24-year-old French player underwent medical examinations on Tuesday morning in Clairefontaine and the medical staff of Les Bleues and PSG considered that she was “not fit” to participate in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand ( July 20-August 20). She had already been absent from the World Cup in 2019 in France, not called up at the time by Corinne Deacon. Her ” recovery is on track, but it’s too fair for a big competition “, explained to AFP the entourage of “MAK”, who has been dragging a serious injury since July 2022 and has still not tasted competition again. Victim during the Euro of a rupture of a ligament in his right knee and a crack in the meniscus, Katoto is in the rehabilitation phase. She has resumed running and has been retouching the ball since the end of April. ” We will make sure to respect the medical aspect, the athletic aspect so as not to go against the physical integrity of this player who still has a bright future ahead of her. But if we can have him with us, I’ll be the first to be delighted “, explained to AFP the new coach of the Bleues Hervé Renard on May 21.
