It’s not a surprise but the confirmation is still a blow. Marie-Antoinette Katoto, star striker of the France team, is forfeited for the World Cup this summer, AFP learned on Tuesday from sources close to the player and the Bleues. Seriously injured in a knee last year, the PSG player has not played a game of the season. After having passed medical examinations Tuesday morning at Clairefontaine, the medical staff of Bleues and PSG considered that she was “not suitable”.
Her “recovery is on the right track but it’s too fair for a big competition”, explained the entourage of “MAK”, who at 24 will miss a second World Cup after 2019, where she had not been. chosen by Corinne Deacon. Victim during the Euro of a rupture of a ligament in his right knee and a crack in the meniscus, Katoto is in the rehabilitation phase. She has resumed running and has been retouching the ball since the end of April.
Mbock uncertain, Diani hoped
“We will make sure to respect the medical aspect, the athletic aspect so as not to go against the physical integrity of this player who still has a bright future ahead of her. But if we can have him with us, I will be the first to be delighted, ”explained the new coach of Les Bleues Hervé Renard on May 21. The latter must announce his list for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on June 6.
For the Bleues, this package is in addition to that already recorded by Delphine Cascarino, striker for Olympique Lyonnais, also injured in the knee. Her teammate Griedge Mbock, central defender, is very uncertain. On the other hand, optimism is in order for striker Kadidiatou Diani, injured at the end of March with PSG but expected among the globalists.