Appointed Thursday after a long soap opera, the 54-year-old technician was inducted with great pomp at the headquarters of the French Football Federation (FFF), in the presence of Jean-Michel Aulas, influential member of the executive committee, and interim president Philippe Diallo.

"He has the experience of the high level, he is a successful coach," Diallo justified in a press conference, praising "the charisma and leadership necessary to climb an additional step to win titles".

The former coach of Saudi Arabia only resigned Tuesday from his former position to return to the fold for the Women's World Cup (July 20-August 20 in Australia and New Zealand), then the Olympic Games Paris-2024.

"Even in my closest circle, it surprised a lot of people. For me it's a question of challenge. Nothing replaces the big competitions in our profession, there we are served, "explained Renard, in black shirt and jacket.

Suddenly propelled into the world of women's football, which could be seen on Friday - he skinned the names of several internationals - he plunged directly into the big bath, three days before the start of the April gathering, the last before the preparation of the World Cup.

"Green light"

To choose his players, the former coach of Sochaux and Lille has "dissected a lot of matches", has "looked at all the individual cases" and has drawn from a pre-list established by the French Federation, in which appeared the rebels who obtained the departure of Diacre, landed on March 9 after five and a half years of mandate.

"I felt that the Federation gave me the green light" to recall them, he explained. "What happened before, I wasn't there, it's none of my business." He certainly wanted to "pay tribute" to his predecessor, "but it is a page that is turning, it must be as positive as possible".

Hervé Renard in front of the media on March 31, 2023 at the headquarters of the FFF. "What happened before, I was not there, it does not concern me," said the successor of Corinne Diacre at the head of the women's France football © team FRANCK FIFE / AFP/Archives

Unsurprisingly, captain Wendie Renard (32 years old, 142 caps), the first to express her discomfort, is one of the 26 players summoned to face Colombia and Canada in friendly, on April 7 and 11 in Clermont-Ferrand and Le Mans.

Paris SG striker Kadidiatou Diani would also have been summoned had it not been for her broken collarbone on her right shoulder suffered Thursday in the Champions League.

Her teammate Marie-Antoinette Katoto, seriously injured a knee at Euro 2022, is engaged in a race against time to compete in the World Cup this summer in Australia.

Hamraoui not summoned

In the direction of returns, the most striking "comeback" is that of Eugenie Le Sommer, top scorer in the history of Les Bleues (175 caps, 86 goals), left out by Diacre since April 2021.

"We really need his experience and intelligence," said the new coach. "It's been a pleasure to talk to her, I can't wait to meet her. As they say: +Welcome back!+"

Lyon's Amel Majri (66 caps) also returns to the national team, a first since September 2021, after a serious knee injury and maternity leave.

Her teammate Amandine Henry, another banished from the Deacon era, is injured but "she is one of the pre-selectable players," said Renard, leaving the door open to the mid-33-year-old.

The Parisian midfielder Kheira Hamraoui, cold with Katoto and Diani in particular, is a little further away from the Blues, even if Renard evoked "a choice above all sporting".

The Montpellier Marion Torrent and Charlotte Bilbault, renowned for their loyalty to Deacon, also remain at the dock, a clear sign of a break with the old era.

Monday in Clairefontaine, the players will meet for the first time Renard and his staff, whom they already know in part. Eric Blahic, former assistant to Diacre, and goalkeeper coach Gilles Fouache, who will remain in his position, will work with Laurent Bonadéi and David Ducci, who were already accompanying Renard to Saudi Arabia.

© 2023 AFP