France captain Wendie Renard, PSG duo, out of Women’s World Cup

France captain Wendie Renard mentioned on Friday that she won’t play at this 12 months’s Women’s World Cup to protect her psychological well being, including that she “can no longer support the current system.”

Two different gamers, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani, adopted go well with in a while Friday.

Renard, who’s extensively thought-about to be one of one of the best defenders in girls’s soccer, performed for France in worldwide video games towards Norway, Denmark and Uruguay earlier this month.

The 32-year-old has 142 caps for France and performs for French facet Lyon.

According to a report in French multimedia outlet RMC Sport, Renard won’t play for the nationwide crew so long as coach Corinne Diacre is in cost.

Renard was stripped of the France captaincy by Diacre following their quarterfinal exit at Euro 2017, earlier than regaining it in 2021. Diacre has beforehand attracted criticism from different French gamers, together with Gaetane Thiney and Sarah Bouhaddi.

“I love France more than anything, I am not perfect, far from it, but I can no longer support the current system, which is far from the requirements of the highest level,” Renard mentioned in a press release on social media.

“It is a sad day but necessary to preserve my mental health. It is with a heavy heart that I come to inform you of my decision to step back from the French team.

“Unfortunately, I can’t be enjoying on this World Cup below such situations. My face might disguise the ache however my coronary heart is struggling… and I do not wish to undergo anymore.”

Shortly after Renard’s statement, Katoto and Diani, who have made a combined 114 appearances for France and both play for Paris Saint-Germain, voiced their support for the 32-year-old and announced that they would be stepping down from the national team until changes are made.

“Following the press launch of our captain Wendie Renard and in view of the latest outcomes and administration of the french nationwide crew, I announce that I’m suspending my worldwide obligations as a way to focus on my profession at membership stage,” Diani said on social media.

“I’m the primary fan of the French crew and if the required modifications are lastly made, I’ll return…”

In a statement released after the trio’s withdrawals, the French Football Federation (FFF) said it would take up the issue when its executive committee meets on Feb. 28, adding that “The FFF want to reiterate that no particular person is above the establishment that’s the French nationwide crew.”

The French soccer players’ union, known as UNFP, called the three players “extraordinarily courageous” for speaking out, and implored the French Football Federation to implement necessary changes.

“This cry of alarm should function a catalyst, and push the events involved to contemplate the concrete penalties of how far we have fallen behind through the years,” the UNFP mentioned in a press release.

This 12 months’s World Cup, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, will happen from July 20 to Aug. 20.

France have been drawn into Group F alongside Jamaica, Brazil and Panama. They start their group marketing campaign on July 23 towards Jamaica.

Information from the Associated Press was used on this report.