Wendie Renard has been named in France’s first roster under new coach Hervé Renard, ending the captain’s international exile.
Renard announced in February that, along with fellow France stars Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, she would be taking a step back from les Bleues amid growing dissatisfaction with the team’s direction.
Though none of the trio mentioned her by name, former France coach Corinne Diacre was widely considered to be the reason for their decision. Diacre clashed with numerous players during her tenure, which ended when she was sacked earlier this month.
If there was any doubt that Diacre was the reason the three players stepped away, that was removed on Friday when Renard returned to the roster for April friendlies against Colombia and Canada. France’s all-time leading scorer Eugenie Le Sommer, who also clashed with Diacre, was included in the squad after nearly two years away.
Diani and Katoto were not in the squad, as both are currently injured.
“Without revealing much, my message is very clear with Eugenie. She has an incomparable experience,” Renard said at a press conference one day after he was named France head coach.
“We really need her experience and her intelligence in the game. It’s been a pleasure to talk with her and I look forward to meeting her and seeing her in action.”
Hervé Renard also refused to say if he intended to reinstate Wendie Renard (no relation) as captain, saying: “I always make it a practice to let the interested parties know before anyone else.
“First I’ll have a chat with her and get the pulse of this group, but I’m looking forward to it.”
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