In disagreement with the management of the national football team, the captain of the Bleues, Wendie Renard, announced on social networks, Friday February 24, her “decision to take a step back with the French team”. The defender, who has had 142 selections since March 2, 2011, explains that she can no longer “endorse the current system far from the requirements required by the highest level”. The Lyonnaise considers this withdrawal necessary to preserve her mental health and announces that she is renouncing, at the same time, the next World Cup which will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, and which will start for the Blue against Jamaica, July 23.
Thank you for your support and respect for my decision. ?? https://t.co/MOryINwvb0
This announcement from one of the most emblematic French players is a thunderclap for French women’s football, just five months before this international deadline where Les Bleues are aiming for a first international title. “My face can hide the pain, but my heart hurts… and I don’t want to hurt anymore,” explains the 32-year-old player.
A complex relationship with Corinne Deacon
Since the start of the season, the French have been going through a complicated period, with in particular two significant defeats against two competitors with a view to the world title, in October, in Germany (2-1) and Sweden (3-0). Led by Wendie Renard, they have however won the Tournoi de France in recent days, a friendly event, against nations deemed weaker: Denmark (1-0), Uruguay (5-1) and Norway (0- 0).
Without clearly giving the reasons for his announcement, Renard is opening a new chapter in his complex relationship with coach Corinne Deacon, who had removed the captain’s armband from the Martiniquaise upon his arrival in 2017, before returning it to him in September 2021.
In recent days, Renard had for example estimated that it was complicated to start experimenting with a new tactical system due to the lack of ” time “ in selection, going against the choices of Corinne Deacon, who assumed a “staff review” and “trials” multiple a few months before the World Cup.
As Euro 2022 approached, where Les Bleues had reached the semi-finals, Corinne Deacon had already experienced a turbulent period after dismissing two executives from the France team, Amandine Henry and the former captain. and best tricolor scorer in the history of Les Bleues, Eugénie Le Sommer.