The new coach of the French women’s team welcomed the players for the first day of Les Bleues training on Monday, before their friendly match against Colombia on Friday.
There was a back-to-school tune on Monday, April 3, at Clairefontaine. Les Bleues discovered their new coach, Hervé Renard, newly appointed, before training for their first friendly match of this gathering, against Colombia, Friday (9:10 p.m.) before a second against Canada on Tuesday. The technician wasted no time talking to his group and naming his captain, Wendie Renard. He delivered his first impressions at a press conference.
Wendie Renard finds the armband
Leader of the sling against Corinne Deacon, Wendie Renard had withdrawn from the France team until a new coach was appointed. The players quickly won their case and the Lyonnaise was summoned by Hervé Renard, who chose to give her back the captain’s armband. “unanimously”with Grace Geyoro and Eugénie Le Sommer as vice-captains.
The coach spoke with the three players to inform them of his choice and obtain their agreement. “I always prefer to talk to the players first, to get their full support, I’m delighted that they accepted. Now everyone has to play their role, whether on or off the pitch, because group life is important to lead it to success”he commented.
His first steps at Clairefontaine
Hervé Renard discovers, amazed, the castle of Clairefontaine, since Sunday: “It’s the first time I’ve set foot there. I passed my coaching diplomas and I was a young international, but it was a very long time ago given my advanced age. (laughs). So I had not had the chance to know Clairefontaine”. Emphasizing the quality of the facilities, Hervé Renard described himself “like a little child who still dreams a little”and that “measure his luck to be here”. As coach, he naturally inherited the same room as Didier Deschamps. “I’ll try to hold it properly because it’s been there so long it’s almost attributed to him”he joked.
More seriously, Hervé Renard announced that he had called his players to a meeting to present to them the group’s rules of life, before the meal, then a training session. “preceded by a short video session to put some offensive actions in place”. On the sporting level, he ensured “that it will be necessary to give the opportunity to a lot of players to show themselves” on the two friendly matches of this gathering, even if he will not be able “give everyone a chance”.
Amel Majri accompanied by her granddaughter
For the first time, a player is authorized to come accompanied by her child to an international gathering, a common practice within the American selection. Amel Majri, the first active French international to get pregnant, arrived in Clairefontaine with her nine-month-old daughter.
“In the biggest world selections, there are a lot of things organized for children, and France is a little behind so we have to take this step, commented Hervé Renard. There has to be a structure for that, with a nanny so that the children can have fun. I don’t think it interferes with any functioning whatsoever in a group, and psychologically it is of paramount importance. The door has just been opened thanks to the FFF […] and maybe we’ll end up with four or five toddlers in the future” .