This is a landmark announcement. The captain of the French women’s team Wendie Renard indicates this Friday, February 24 to want ” take a step back “Compared to the Blue and not wanting to participate in the next Women’s World Cup from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand, under current conditions.
” I love France more than anything (…) but I can no longer endorse the current system, far from the requirements required by the highest level “Writes on social networks the defender of Lyon, who has 142 selections with the Blue. “ It’s a sad but necessary day to preserve my sanity. It is with a heavy heart that I come by this message to inform you of my decision to take a step back with the French team. Unfortunately, I will not do this World Cup under such conditions. My face can hide the pain but my heart hurts… and I don’t want to hurt anymore “, Develops the 32-year-old player in a message posted on Instagram and Twitter.
Thunderbolt for French women’s football
The announcement sounds like a thunderclap for French women’s football, just five months from a World Cup where Les Bleues hope to win their first international title.
Unlucky semi-finalists at the Euro last summer, the French have lived through several mixed months since the start of the season, with in particular two significant defeats in October in Germany (2-1) and Sweden (3-0), two competing for the planetary title.
Led by Renard, Les Bleues have timidly raised their heads by winning the Tournoi de France in recent days, a friendly event, against nations deemed weaker: Denmark (1-0), Uruguay (5-1) and Norway (0-0).
If we do not yet know the reasons for his departure, Renard is opening a new chapter in his complex relationship with coach Corinne Deacon, who had removed the captain’s armband from the Martiniquaise on his arrival in 2017, before returning it to him in September 2021. .
In recent days, Renard had for example recognized that it was complicated to embark on the experimentation of a new tactical system because of the lack of ” time ” in selection, going against the choices of Corinne Deacon, who assumed a “ workforce review » and « trials “Multiple a few months before the World Cup.
Deacon has also long dismissed former emblematic players who are partners of Renard in Lyon, such as Eugénie Le Sommer and Amandine Henry.
With AFP