Women’s World Cup: few surprises from Les Bleues, Amandine Henry should be there

The 2023 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Tuesday 6 June for France. A big opening day for a select few who will travel to Australia this summer (July 20-August 20), four years after the World Cup hosted in France. Hervé Renard will talk about his choice at 16:00 at the premises of the equipment manufacturer FFF in Paris. A list of 26 names, including 4 goalkeepers, means that three players will not board a plane to Sydney in early July once training on European soil has been completed.

A situation that is never easy to deal with is reminiscent of the men’s situation before the 1998 World Cup with Ibrahim Ba, Nicolas Anelka, Sabri Lamouchi, Martin Jetou, Lionel Letizi or Pierre Laigl. But for Herve Renard, appointed at the end of March at the head of the French national team, this expanded list looks like a duty. For his only call, made on March 31st for two friendlies in April, the former Lille or Sochaux manager has already selected 26 players to reveal as many profiles as possible.

Currently on holiday after a long season that started with Euro 2022, the Blues are learning of their call from their holiday destination. The only surprise should be Amandine Henry’s return to midfield. The ex-Lionese with 93 rebounds hasn’t played Les Bleues since November 2020. She would have been on Renard’s first list if not for the injury. Who just signed with Angel City in the US after leaving OL hasn’t played since the end of March. In midfield, this will be the only surprise: Charlotte Bilbo (Montpellier) should not be there; Keira Hamrawi will definitely not be there.

Without Cascarino and Catoto, with Diani

Herve Renard will rely on the group studied in April. Sandy Toletti (Real Madrid), Aurian Jean-Francois, Laurina Faser, Grace Geyoro (PSG), Lea Le Garrec (Fleury 91), Kenza Dali (Aston Villa) and Amel Mairy (Ol “). Otherwise, the big question revolves around the names of the injured Delfina Cascarino, Marie Antoinette Catoto and Gridge Mboka. Especially for Cascarino, since Lionesse were present in April (2 goals, 2 assists in 2 games), unlike the other two.

Melvin Malar, Vicki Bechot (Ol) or Mathilde Bourdieu (PSG) could well have been among the strikers on this list while they were out in the spring. However, the first one was intended to complement the package of Kessia Bussy (Reims). As for other strikers, they will include Ulemata Sarr, Clara Mateo (Paris), Eugenie Le Sommer (Aul), Vivian Assei (West Ham) or Sandy Baltimore (PSG).

Herve Renard can especially count on Kadidiatou Diani. The best player of the D1 season, injured since March 30 (victim of a broken right collarbone), continues his recovery work and will be ready to start training on June 20 in Clairefontaine. The star of Les Bleues in the absence of Catoto and Cascarino, she will be the main offensive asset in this World Cup.

Finally, the same names are also expected in defense and in the goalkeeper position as in April. As such, Les Bleues will gather at Clairefontaine from June 20 for a two-week training session before playing their first friendly match in Dublin, Ireland. Then they will go to Australia, where on July 14 in Melbourne they are waiting for the final preparatory match. The opening of their World Cup will take place on July 23 in Sydney against Jamaica. Brazil and Panama are France’s other two opponents in the first round.