Hervé Renard unveils a “vintage” list tinged with youth, with Amandine Henry – Liberation

The new coach of the French women’s football team listed on Tuesday the names of the players who will participate in the World Cup in New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.

It’s D-Day. The kick-off of the preparation for the World Cup really began this Tuesday, June 6 afternoon at 87, boulevard de Grenelle, headquarters of the French Football Federation. At 4 p.m. Hervé Renard finally lifted the veil on his intentions a month and a half before the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand (July 20-August 20).

We remember 2019 when Corinne Deacon was entitled to 8 p.m. on TF1 to announce her list of 23 players for the World Cup. This year, exit Deacon: it is Hervé Renard who stands behind the microphone when announcing the long-awaited list. No television news this time, but a simple press conference at the headquarters of the “3F”. After an avalanche of controversies of all kinds – a strike by the main players of the French team and the dismissal of the coach at the time Corinne Deacon, the complaints of harassment against the president of the Federation of Noel Le Graët period – time for peace. We understand Renard’s mission: to pacify the selection after several years of upheaval.

It is surely with this in mind that Renard recalled the tenors of the selection. Starting with former captain Amandine Henry, back after two and a half years away from Les Bleues, after a falling out with Deacon. At 33, the midfielder with 93 caps is experiencing an improbable resurrection: dismissed at the end of 2020 from the French team and stayed away from the field since March against a backdrop of conflict with Olympique Lyonnais, Henry touches his third Cup of the world. Remind her”was one of my first intentions“, explained Renard in a press conference. Eugénie Le Sommer, successfully summoned in April, is also present. Ditto for captain Wendie Renard, who will play her 4th World Cup at the age of 32.

The coach had to deal with some physical glitches: injured, his star scorer Marie-Antoine Katoto, great hope of women’s football, is not on the list, just like the two players from Olympique Lyonnais, winger Delphine Cascarino and defender Griedge Mbock, injured in the knee. PSG player Kheira Hamraoui was not called, just like during the last rally.

Classic and (small) surprises

The rest looks like classic. Renard called on the top scorer of the D1 season, the 28-year-old Parisian, Kadidiatou Diani. After a prolific season (17 goals in D1) she will be the main offensive weapon of the Blues in Australia, against Jamaica (July 23), Brazil (July 29) and Panama (August 2) in Group F.

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. In addition, the executives of the French team, the midfielder Grace Geyoro or the defenders Sakina Karchaoui, Eve Périsset are well called.

To complete the tricolor attack, Hervé Renard has reserved a little surprise by leaving aside the promising Sandy Baltimore, who is paying for his lackluster season at PSG. This benefits Naomie Feller and the only novice on the list, Lyonnaise Vicki Becho, 19, who is offered an unexpected chance to shine to appear in the 23. Two other Parisians in midfield are also selected Oriane Jean- François, 21, and Laurina Fazer, 19. It is with this squad that Hervé Renard and Les Bleues will dream of a first international title this summer, one year before the Paris Olympics.