With less than two years before Euro 2022, the French women’s football team, which has never reached the final of a major international competition, can afford the luxury of an open conflict between its coach? and some of his best players?
From the withdrawal of the captain’s armband to defender Wendie Renard, to post-World 2019 criticism against striker Eugénie Le Sommer, Corinne Deacon’s relations with the internationals playing in a club in Lyon have certainly never been a long quiet river and have deteriorated since his induction at the head of the Blue (August 30, 2017). But today the tension is maximum.
The sidelining of Amandine Henry ignited the powder
After the announcement this summer by goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi of her desire to no longer align with the France team as long as Corinne Deacon would take control, it is the sidelining of the captain, the midfielder Amandine Henry, for the next two qualifying matches for the future European tournament (North Macedonia Friday October 23 and Austria Tuesday October 27), which sets fire to the powder.
“It’s a sporting reason. I called her to tell her that I was not taking her in the group to give her time to return to her best level after her injury ”, justified Corinne Deacon.
The explanation did not convince in Lyon. “Amandine was certainly injured but she remained on three games with us and she had given complete satisfaction to the coach”, advance to World the leader of the Rhone women’s team, Olivier Blanc.
“The atmosphere is not good”
“Incomprehensible”, judged Amel Majri, on October 16 on the sidelines of the match between OL and Guingamp, while Wendie Renard (120 caps), whose “lukewarm” relationship with Corinne Deacon is no secret, let go: “The atmosphere is not good, the image we emit in Europe and in the world is not the one that the France team should have. It’s important to be calm, to have confidence. It is a difficult situation. “
Outside the ranks of Lyon, the situation also calls out. “She does without the captain, noo 6 in the best club in the world and at the same time summons players who were injured and have had very little playing time over the past month. I am completely lost, like many ”, reacted the player of Paris FC, Gaëtane Thiney (163 caps), who has not been called to the French team for a year.
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