The French national women’s team is on its head. National coach Corinne Diacre has been at odds with part of her group for a long time, but now captain Wendie Renard has once again caused a bombshell. She announced on social media that she was retiring as an international. “I can no longer support the current policy,” she wrote. Two other important players, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani, followed her example.
During the last international break, France played a few exhibition matches in preparation for the World Cup that will be played this summer in Australia and New Zealand. It won against Uruguay and Denmark and drew against Norway. But off the field, another battle erupted.
Captain Wendie Renard suddenly said goodbye as international. The Lyon player is 32 and a permanent fixture in the national team. “I have worn the jersey of France 142 times with great pride and respect. I love France and I am certainly not perfect myself, but I can no longer support the current policy of the national team,” she writes.
“It’s a far cry from the current top-level demands. This is a sad day, but I have to do this for my mental health,” she says. “I’m taking a break from the national team. I don’t want to play the World Cup in these circumstances.”
“My face is good at hiding my pain, but my heart hurts and I don’t want to suffer anymore.”
I have to do this for my mental health. I’m taking a break from the national team. I don’t want to play the World Cup in these circumstances.
Renard immediately received a lot of support on social media, and two other players of the team followed her example: Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani, two PSG players.
“The events of 2019 (when she was not selected for the World Cup in her own country, ed.), the injury I sustained during the European Championship in 2022, and the recent events have made me realize that I am no longer on the same page as the management of the team,” writes Katoto. “We don’t share the same values.”
She put her career on hold for a while. “Until the necessary changes have happened,” she writes.
The story of Diani, also a regular in the offensive against France, sounds similar. “With the current results and management in mind, I have decided to temporarily put my international career on hold. I remain a fan of France and if the necessary changes are made, I will be happy to be available again.”
National coach is not mentioned by name, but is under discussion
None of the players calls national coach Corinne Diacre by name, but everything points in her direction. There have been problems between her and the players in the past.
After the World Cup in 2019, for example, many negative stories came out about the approach of the trainer. Many players would have been crying in the dressing room before matches, after they had been leveled to the ground by Diacre.
At that time, several internationals already tried to force Diacre’s resignation from federation chairman Noël Le Graët with a coup, but he refused. Diacre’s contract was recently even extended until the Games in 2024.
Even now, the French federation has already reacted briefly. “No player is above the group”, it sounds.
Wondering if these chunks can still be glued for the World Cup, which starts in 5 months.
Corinne Deacon.
The messages from the players on Instagram
