Coach Hervé Renard unveiled on Tuesday the preliminary list of 26 players for the world, marked in particular by the return of the former captain of the Bleues Amandine Henry, after two and a half years of absence.
Published on : 06/06/2023 – 18:51
It’s an unlikely resurrection for Amandine Henry. After two and a half years of absence, the former captain of Les Bleues is one of the 26 players on the preliminary list, unveiled on Tuesday June 6, by coach Hervé Renard, with a view to preparing for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Dismissed at the end of 2020 by ex-coach Corinne Deacon after a clash in the public square, the 33-year-old midfielder has been away from the field since March, against a backdrop of conflict with Olympique Lyonnais. She touches on her third World Cup, scheduled for July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
Recalling it “was part of my first intentions”, explained Renard at a press conference.
With his 93 selections, this emblematic face of the France team of the 2010s is part of the preliminary list of 26 players unveiled Tuesday by Hervé Renard in the premises of the equipment supplier of Les Bleues.
She will now have to prove to her coach that she deserves her place in the final list of 23 players, expected by Fifa on July 10.
Because Henry has not played a single game since the beginning of March, first because of an injury, then because of a sick leave taken “for personal reasons” pending his move from Lyon to Angel City , a Californian franchise that she has just joined. “Everything seems resolved, we accompanied her very closely so that she was fit,” warned Renard.
Focus on experience
Hired to appease the selection after several years of upheavals and a revolt of the players having led to the departure of Deacon in March, he gave the starting signal to the first of his two missions.
This is the 2023 World Cup in Oceania, where Les Bleues will dream of a first international title this summer a year before the Paris Olympics. After two months in office and two matches played in April, this enthusiast of major competitions – he has already played in the men’s world championship at the end of 2022 with Saudi Arabia – has clearly chosen to bet on experience for his adventure on the other side. of the globe.
He built his team around a thirty-year-old per line: Henry in the middle, captain Wendie Renard (32 years old, 144 caps) in defense and another comeback in attack, Eugénie Le Sommer, successfully recalled in April.
At 34, the top scorer in the history of Les Bleues (88 goals) will play like Wendie Renard in her fourth World Cup and risks having big offensive responsibilities, in the absence of two major attacking assets due to injury. tricolor.
Star scorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto and winger Delphine Cascarino withdrew, hit in the knee like defender Griedge Mbock.
Unsurprisingly, Renard also called up D1’s top scorer of the season, Kadidiatou Diani. The Parisian (28) has been suffering from a shoulder since the end of March but she must return to the field during the preparation course which starts on June 20 at the Clairefontaine training center.
Kheira Hamraoui dismissed
After a prolific season (17 goals in D1), she will be the No. 1 offensive weapon of the Blues in Australia, against Jamaica (July 23), Brazil (July 29) and Panama (August 2) in the group f.
To complete the tricolor attack, Hervé Renard has reserved a little surprise by leaving aside the promising Sandy Baltimore (23), who is paying for his lackluster season at PSG.
This benefits Naomie Feller (21) and the only novice on the list, Vicki Becho (19, Lyon), who is offered an unexpected chance to shine in the eyes of the coach to appear in the 23.
In his search for experienced profiles, Renard also trusted Viviane Asseyi (29) and especially Amel Majri (30), who should travel to Australia with her daughter born in July 2022, a first for Les Bleues.
As in April, the charismatic coach on the other hand dismissed Kheira Hamraoui, yet returned under Deacon despite the icy relations she has with certain players at PSG, including Diani.
Two other Parisiennes were preferred to him in the middle : Oriane Jean-François (21 years old) and Laurina Fazer (19 years old). A touch of youth at the heart of a rather “vintage” list.
With AFP
