France captain Wendie Renard mentioned on Friday that she is not going to 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”.
Renard, who’s broadly thought of to be among the finest defenders in ladies’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 Olympique Lyonnais.
According to a report in French multimedia outlet RMC Sport, Renard is not going to 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 quarter-final 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 an announcement 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 will not be playing in this World Cup under such conditions. My face may hide the pain but my heart is suffering… and I don’t want to suffer anymore.”
The French Football Federation didn’t instantly reply to an emailed request for remark.
This 12 months’s World Cup, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, will happen from July 20 to August 20.
France has been drawn into Group F alongside Jamaica, Brazil and Panama and begins its group marketing campaign on July 23 towards Jamaica.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com