Paris (AFP)

Midfielder Gaëtane Thiney, 34, was not selected for the Tournoi de France (March 4-10) by Corinne Diacre, the Bleues coach whose management she publicly criticized, according to the list released on Wednesday.

The boss of the French women's football team had indicated in November to the captain of Paris FC (163 selections) that she might not summon her in the future.

"Only the weekend competitions guide me in these choices, and I found that after the World Cup her performances were below what she had been able to show us before," said Deacon Wednesday. in front of the press.

Since the elimination in the quarterfinals of the World Cup-2019 against the United States, where she was the holder, Thiney has been recalled at each rally, but with a reduced playing time.

In an interview with AFP in mid-February, she invited Diacre to "modernize" her management and to "draw inspiration" from Didier Deschamps, a technician who "protects his players, loves them, federates them".

The coach assured that the critics were "part of (his) function" and could have allowed him to evolve.

"I am stubborn, but I am not closed and obtuse," she said. "I have a real desire to move forward, to improve myself (...) I hear what is being said. Afterwards, we cannot please everyone."

At the Tournoi de France, friendly competition imagined by the president of the Federation Noël Le Graët after the World Cup organized last summer in France, Thiney will be replaced digitally by the Bordelaise Ouleymata Sarr (10 selections).

The Bleues will start against Canada on March 4 in Calais, before challenging Brazil and the Netherlands on March 7 and 10 in Valenciennes. These three opponents, all members of the world top-10, are preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for which they are qualified, unlike the France team.

For this first rally of the year, a month before the resumption of qualifications at the Euro, Deacon records the returns of his captain Amandine Henry and his striker Kadidiatou Diani, forced to forfeit in November.

The coach also decided to recall Estelle Cascarino in place of Montpellier Elisa de Almeida. The Bordeaux defender will find her twin Delphine, Lyon striker.

List of Bleues selected for the French Tournament, from March 4 to 10 in Calais and Valenciennes:

Guardians (3): Sarah Bouhaddi (Lyon), Solène Durand (Guingamp), Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (Arsenal / ENG)

Defenders (8): Estelle Cascarino (Bordeaux), Sakina Karchaoui (Montpellier), Griedge Mbock Bathy (Lyon), Perle Morroni (Paris SG), Eve Périsset (Paris SG), Wendie Renard (Lyon), Marion Torrent (Montpellier), Aïssatou Tounkara (Atlético Madrid / ESP)

Midfielders (6): Viviane Asseyi (Bordeaux), Charlotte Bilbault (Bordeaux), Kenza Dali (West Ham / ENG), Grace Geyoro (Paris SG), Amandine Henry (Lyon), Amel Majri (Lyon)

Forwards (6): Delphine Cascarino (Lyon), Kadidiatou Diani (Paris SG), Valérie Gauvin (Montpellier), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris SG), Eugénie Le Sommer (Lyon), Ouleymata Sarr (Bordeaux)

© 2020 AFP