At the end of January, the coach wanted to freelance with the Ivorian selection for the end of the CAN. A position that was of concern before the Nations League semi-final against Germany on Friday (9 p.m.).
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The case now appears to be closed. When announcing his list for the final oven of the League of Nations, which begins Friday February 23 with a semi-final against Germany in Lyon (9 p.m., live on France 3 and france.tv), Hervé Renard had announced that he wanted to explain to the Bleues about his aborted loan in Ivory Coast. Despite his role as coach of the French women’s team, he had in fact said he was ready to take a place on the Elephants’ bench for the end of the African Cup of Nations, before negotiations failed between the French Football Federation (FFF) and its Ivorian counterpart on January 25.
“It is mandatory [d’en parler avec le groupe]. When you are on the move and you have a problem with your wife at a distance, when you come home, you are obliged to sit down and take stock, to give a rational and concrete explanation. That’s what I’m going to do with them.”he declared from the town hall of the capital of Gaul on February 14, judging moreover that he had not “not offended anyone”.
A legitimate desire for the Blues
A step that he therefore took at the start of the week near Clairefontaine. Even if, to tell the truth, no one ostensibly blamed him at the castle. Witnesses since the last World Cup to the involvement of the one who brought back the joy of living in the French team after the tumults under Corinne Diacre, the internationals have, according to Elisa De Almeida, “never taken [cette possibilité de prêt de Renard] like a lack of respect”. “He is always behind us and shows it every day, still there during the internship”assured the Parisian to franceinfo on Tuesday.
Eugénie Le Sommer: “No doubts about Hervé Renard and his involvement.”
Eugénie Le Sommer: “No doubts about Hervé Renard and his involvement.” – ()
A refrain already sung by Eugénie Le Sommer on the stage of Stade 2, Sunday. But also by her OL teammate Delphine Cascarino, back in the selection nine months later his partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee. “Given that the CAN was not at the same time, frankly, he does what he wants. He could have gone and won and come back motivated, with the desire to relive this feeling of victory with us. He did not not been disrespectful towards women’s football, quite the contrary”she estimated for AFP.
“Now it’s aside”
This was what several historical personalities of the discipline had spoken out against, castigating this declared desire of the coach and the Federation, to respond to the call of the Ivory Coast, a question of symbolism. “The fact that he opened the door stings a littleannoyed former international Marinette Pichon in The Team (paid item). You have the impression that preparing for the Olympic Games is not a priority. It’s unwelcome and it has hurt a lot of players in women’s football.”
But, within the France group, some players say they are proud and flattered to be coached by a tactician with such a high rating abroad. An argument also used by Jean-Michel Aulas, who renewed his “complete confidence” in Hervé Renard last week. “I was very surprised by the way things were perceived. It absolutely did not bother the French team. At the time of the discussions, I joined a certain number of players, including the captain [Wendie Renard], to find out if it could be inconvenient. It wasn’t. What was commented on is a non-event.”estimated Aulas, vice-president of the FFF delegate in charge of women’s football.
In the midst of this flood of declarations denying any diplomatic incident, the only – measured – wave came from Selma Bacha. “I Don’t hide the fact that when I saw what came out, it hurt me a little and I had doubts.”, recognized the side, known for his outspokenness, at the microphone of RMC Sport on Tuesday. Before sweeping: “Now, that’s aside, we’re going to focus on this semi-final. We are ready to kill ourselves for him and for the staff.”
It is therefore in a calm climate that this gathering takes place, despite the absence of Wendie Renard, essential defender in defense. Particularly exposed last month in spite of itself, the French women’s team has now closed the Ivory Coast subject. Making him forget definitively will, however, require conquering the first title in its history between now and the end of Hervé Renard’s mandate. This is good, an opportunity presents itself this week, with first the German obstacle to remove, before a possible final against Spain or the Netherlands on February 28.