Hervé Renard has decided. The coach of the French women’s team has announced an initial list of 26 players for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, from July 20 to August 20. There will only be 23 Bleues left when crossing the planet, but Amandine Henry will surely be one of them.
The 33-year-old Lyon midfielder was called up by Renard. At odds with Corinne Deacon, the previous coach, she has not played in the selection since December 2020. Her lack of competition did not scare the former coach of Saudi Arabia: Henry has not played since the beginning of March, between a knee injury and then a falling out with OL, which she will leave to join the United States and Angel City.
Diani recovering but present
Already recalled when Renard made his debut in early April, and double scorer for his very first friendly match against Colombia (5-2), Lyon striker Eugénie Le Sommer (34) is also among the lucky ones, like the convalescent Kadidiatou Diani (PSG, 28 years old). They will have to animate an offensive sector orphan of Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG) and Delphine Cascarino (OL), absent through injury.
Kheira Hamraoui is not there either, but it is a sporting choice. The 33-year-old Parisian midfielder, whose name has, despite herself, been cited more in extra-sports cases than for her performances since her attack in November 2021, has failed to double the competition. In particular that of his teammate Oriane Jean-François (21 years old).