The 2023 World Cup kicks off this Tuesday for the France team. Day of the big revelation for the selected who will travel to Australia this summer (July 20-August 20), four years after the World Cup organized in France. Hervé Renard will unveil his choices at 16 p.m., from the premises of the FFF equipment manufacturer in Paris. A list of 26 names, including 4 goalkeepers, which means that three players will not climb on the plane to Sydney in early July, once the preparation is completed on European soil.
A situation never easy to manage that recalls that of Ibrahim Ba, Nicolas Anelka, Sabri Lamouchi, Martin Djetou, Lionel Letizi or Pierre Laigle among the men before the 1998 World Cup. But for Hervé Renard, appointed at the end of March to head the France team, this expanded list looks like an obligation. For his only call-up, made on March 31 for two friendly matches in April, the former coach of Lille or Sochaux had chosen 26 players, already, in order to discover a maximum of profiles.
Currently on holiday after a long season that began with Euro 2022, Les Bleues will learn their call-up from their holiday resort. The only surprise should concern the return of Amandine Henry in the midfield. The former Lyonnaise with 93 caps has not known the Blues since November 2020. She would have been on Renard's first list had it not been for her injury. The one who has just signed with Angel City in the United States after her departure from OL has not played since the end of March. In midfield, it will be the only surprise: Charlotte Bilbault (Montpellier) should not be; Kheira Hamraoui, with certainty, will not be there.
Sans Cascarino ni Katoto, with Diani
Hervé Renard will rely on the group studied in April. Sandie Toletti (Real Madrid), Oriane Jean-François, Laurina Fazer, Grace Geyoro (PSG), Léa Le Garrec (Fleury 91), Kenza Dali (Aston Villa) and Amel Majri (OL) will be present. For the rest, the big question revolves around the names of the replacements for the injured Delphine Cascarino, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Griedge Mbock. Especially for Cascarino since Lyon was present in April (2 goals, 2 assists in 2 games) unlike the other two.
Melvine Malard, Vicki Becho (OL) or Mathilde Bourdieu (Paris FC) could well occupy a place among the strikers on this list while they were absent in the spring. The first had however been called to replace the forfeit of Kessya Bussy (Reims). For the other offensive players, Ouleymata Sarr, Clara Matéo (Paris FC), Eugénie Le Sommer (OL), Viviane Asseyi (West Ham) or Sandy Baltimore (PSG) will be.
Hervé Renard will especially be able to count on Kadidiatou Diani. The best player of the D1 season, injured since March 30 (victim of a fracture in the right collarbone), continues her recovery work and will be ready for the start of the preparation, on June 20 in Clairefontaine. Star of the Blues in the absence of Katoto and Cascarino, she will be the main offensive asset during this World Cup.
Finally, in defense and goalkeeper, the same names as in April are also expected. Les Bleues will gather in Clairefontaine on June 20 for a fortnight of training before playing a first friendly match in Dublin (Ireland). They will then take off for Australia where a final warm-up match awaits them on July 14 in Melbourne. The opening of their World Cup will take place on July 23, in Sydney, against Jamaica. Brazil and Panama are the other two opponents of the France in the first round.
