Earlier this month, we reported that France's preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup had been thrown into disarray following the dismissal of head coach Corrine Diacre. Diacre, who had been in charge of Les Bleues since 2017, had been involved in several flashpoints with key members of the French squad, leading several players to declare that they would not join the team for the upcoming World Cup.
These players included highly experienced defender Wendie Renard, who has earned over 140 caps for the French women's senior squad, and prolific striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who had been shockingly snubbed by Diacre for the 2019 edition of the World Cup.
Shortly after the players' announcements, Diacre was sacked - but not before she repeatedly lashed out at the media and made accusations of an "organized smear campaign" that sought to discredit her in the eyes of the public.
With just a few months to go until the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, there has been growing worry that France's coaching situation would prove to be a much unwanted distraction as the team hopes to finally make major inroads in the competition.
Now, new reports indicate that France's search for a new manager may have finally brought good news. Herve Renard, who masterminded Saudi Arabia's brilliant 2-1 upset of South American titans Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has been linked with taking over on the tactician's bench.
Should this come to pass, it would be the first position in women's football for the 54-year-old former defender. Renard, who made history as the first coach to win the AFCON twice with two different countries (Zambia in 2012 and the Ivory Coast in 2015), would likely be a welcome appointment among the France squad, but it remains to be seen whether players like Renard and Katoto opt to reverse their decisions with a change in management.
