Clouds are gathering over the French women’s football team. Les Bleues have just lost (temporarily?) a monument: its captain, Wendie Renard, announced Friday on her social networks to withdraw from the selection, five months before the next World Cup disputed in Australia and New Zealand (July 20-August 20). The precise reasons for her decision are still unclear, but the tumultuous relationship she had with coach Corinne Deacon seems to have played a major role.
“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 is in pain… and I don’t want to suffer anymore.” the 32-year-old said in a message posted on Instagram and Twitter. The announcement comes a few days after the selection, led by its most capped player (142 selections), won the Toulon Tournament, a friendly competition. Wendie Renard even found the net against Uruguay in her side’s 5-1 win.
“Military” behavior
“I love France more than anything […] but I can no longer endorse the current system, which is far from the requirements required by the highest level”, can also be read on one of the publications. The words are strong. Many saw between the lines a new chapter in his complex relationship with coach Corinne Deacon. The latter had removed the Martinican captain’s armband when he arrived in 2017 at the head of the France team 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 «temps» in selection, going against the choices of Corinne Deacon, who assumed a “workforce review” and “trials” multiple a few months before the World Cup.
As bad news never comes alone, PSG players Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani announced in turn “in parentheses” their international career. The PSG striker initially greeted the «courage» of his captain on the networks. Her teammate invoked “Recent results and management” to justify his decision.
On Friday evening, the FFF reacted to the withdrawals of its three players by saying “that no individuality is above the France team institution”. The executive committee of the “3F” must meet on February 28 to “grasp the question”.
Coach Corinne Deacon is described as uncompromising, with an almost “military” demeanor. A management method that can sometimes tense up its executive players. Since taking office, multiple storms have darkened his balance sheet. After a disappointing 2019 World Cup at home, Corinne Deacon publicly criticized her star striker Eugénie Le Sommer, causing strong internal tensions. In the summer of 2020, goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi announced her withdrawal from the France team as long as Corinne Deacon was coach. A new controversy then broke out a year later, when she decided not to select Amandine Henry, then captain, at the October rally. A new controversy has therefore upset the plans of the Blue. Maybe not the last.
Update : To 7:42 p.m., with the reaction of the FFF