Six weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup, Hervé Renard, the coach of the France team, has revealed the players who could accompany him to Australia and New Zealand. In this pre-list, he placed some experienced players as well as young shooters. Its final list must be sent to Fifa before July 10.
And the big announcement is the return of former Blue captain Amandine Henry, 93 selections. At 33, the midfielder is experiencing an improbable resurrection: dismissed at the end of 2020 by ex-coach Corinne Deacon after a clash in the public square, stayed away from the field since March against a backdrop of conflict with Olympique Lyonnais, Henry touches finger his third in the world.
She will now have to prove to her coach that she deserves her place, because she has not played a single match since the beginning of March, first because of an injury, then because of a sick leave taken " for personal reasons" pending her move from Lyon to Angel City, a Californian franchise she has just joined. "Everything seems resolved, we have accompanied her very closely so that she is fit," warned the coach.
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Hired to appease the selection after several years of upheaval and a revolt of the players having led to the departure of Corinne Deacon in March, he gave the starting signal to the first of his two missions: the World Cup, before turning to the Olympic Games 2024.
After two months in office and two games played in April, this enthusiast of major competitions - he has already played in the Men's World Cup 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-something per line: Amandine 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, her fourth World Cup and risks having big offensive responsibilities, in the absence of two major assets from the club due to injury. tricolor attack. Star scorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto and winger Delphine Cascarino withdrew with knee injuries, as did defender Griedge Mbock.
Unsurprisingly, Hervé Renard also called 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 pitch during the preparation camp which starts on June 20 at the Clairefontaine training center. 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, Hervé Renard also trusted Viviane Asseyi (29) and especially Amel Majri (30), who should travel to Australia with his 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 Corrine Deacon, despite the icy relations she has with certain players at PSG, including Diani.
Two other Parisians 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.
Goalkeepers (4): Mylène Chavas (free, ex-Bordeaux), Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (Juventus Turin), Constance Picaud (PSG), Solène Durand (Guingamp)
Defenders (8): Selma Bacha (OL), Estelle Cascarino (Manchester United), Elisa De Almeida (PSG), Sakina Karchaoui (PSG), Eve Périsset (Chelsea), Wendie Renard (OL), Maëlle Lakrar (Montpellier), Aïssatou Tounkara (Manchester United)
Midfielders (8): Kenza Dali (Aston Villa), Laurina Fazer (PSG), Grace Geyoro (PSG), Amandine Henry (Angel City), Oriane Jean-François (PSG), Léa Le Garrec (Fleury), Amel Majri (OL), Sandie Toletti (Real Madrid)
Forwards (6): Vivane Asseyi (West Ham), Kadidiatou Diani (PSG), Eugénie Le Sommer (OL), Clara Mateo (Paris FC), Naomie Feller (Real Madrid), Vicki Becho (OL)
