Wendie Renard has returned to the France women’s national team in the first roster under new coach Hervé Renard.

The 32-year-old defender stepped away from the team in February alongside fellow stars Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. The players cited growing dissatisfaction with team leadership and called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return. While not mentioned directly by the players, then-coach Corinne Diacre was cited as a major reason behind their decision.

During her tenure, Diacre clashed with many players. After the star players made their stand in February, the coach was fired by the French Football Federation in March.

The federation pointed to the “fracture” in Diacre’s relationship with players and “irreversible” dysfunction in its decision to part ways with Diacre. The “very significant divide” within the team “has reached a point of no return,” the FFF said.

Hervé Renard, no relation to Wendie, was announced as the new France women’s national team coach Thursday ahead of the team’s April friendlies against Colombia and Canada.

On his first roster, Wendie Renard has returned to the team. Diani and Katoto are injured and thus were not included on the roster. But whether or not Renard will once again be captain of the team remains a question mark.

“I always make it a practice to let the interested parties know before anyone else,” Hervé Renard said. “First I’ll have a chat with her and get the pulse of this group, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Just a day after France women’s national team coach Corinne Diacre vowed to remain at the helm despite the departures of key players, the national federation dismissed her from her post.

The French Football Federation pointed to the “fracture” in her relationship with the players in its announcement of the decision Thursday. The “very significant divide” within the team “has reached a point of no return,” the FFF said.

Three top French players had refused to play for their country in this summer’s World Cup under the “current system,” they announced on Feb. 24.

France captain Wendie Renard and star forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues with Les Bleues management in their decisions to step away from the national team. Both Katoto and Diani called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return.

Yet Diacre pushed back against the criticism of her leadership.

“I have been the subject of a smear campaign that is astonishing in its violence and dishonesty,” she said in a statement Wednesday.

The FFF executive committee cited “irreversible” dysfunction in its decision to part ways with the 48-year-old coach. A four-person panel commissioned by interim FFF president Philippe Diallo had reviewed Diacre’s tenure in the wake of the players’ departures.

Diacre had coached the France senior national team since 2017. She was involved in a number of controversies during her tenure. She stripped Renard of her captaincy in 2017 before reinstating her as captain in 2021, and she left Katoto off the 2019 World Cup squad.

The four-person panel has been charged with finding a replacement coach “as soon as possible” as the team, No. 5 in FIFA’s world rankings, continues its preparations for the World Cup.

France women’s national team coach Corinne Diacre has vowed to remain at the helm despite the departures of several top players.

Three top French players have refused to play for their country in this summer’s World Cup under the “current system,” they announced on Feb. 24.

France captain Wendie Renard and star forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues with Les Bleues management in their decisions to step away from the national team. Both Katoto and Diani called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return to the team.

Yet Diacre plans to stay on as coach through the World Cup, she said in a statement released Wednesday. She also pushed back against criticism of her leadership.

“I have been the subject of a smear campaign that is astonishing in its violence and dishonesty,” she said.

Diacre has coached the France senior national team since 2017, but she has been involved in a number of controversies during her tenure. For example, she stripped Renard of her captaincy in 2017 before reinstating her as captain in 2021. She also left Katoto off the 2019 World Cup squad.

“My detractors have not hesitated to attack my personal and professional integrity without bothering with the truth,” Diacre said. “I will not let myself be affected by this destabilization operation, which does not take into account my sporting record, and whose only objective is a personal settling of scores.”

French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët resigned in February, which brought a temporary halt to the FFF’s consideration of Diacre’s fate. Her future will be discussed at a meeting of the FFF executive committee on Thursday, per reports.

France women’s national team coach Corinne Diacre remains in limbo after three top players refused to play for their country in the upcoming World Cup under the “current system.”

While she was expected to step down from her post on Tuesday, as The Times reported Monday, the resignation of French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët has halted plans regarding Diacre’s fate. Her future with the team will be decided at a March 9 meeting of the FFF executive committee.

Le Graët had served as FFF president since 2011 but resigned in the wake of sexual harassment and bullying allegations surfaced. In his absence, the executive committee will appoint a small group from among its members to consider Diacre’s case, French newspaper L’Equipe reported.

The furor over Diacre’s leadership came to a head last Friday, as France captain Wendie Renard and star forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues with Les Bleues management in their decisions to step away from the national team. Both Katoto and Diani called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return to the team.

The World Cup is set to kick off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

In response to the players’ statements, the FFF announced that its executive committee would address the issue at its meeting Tuesday. “The FFF would like to remind that no individual is above the Équipe de France institution,” the statement said.

Diacre has coached the France senior national team since 2017, but she has been involved in a number of controversies in her tenure. For example, she stripped Renard of her captaincy in 2017 before reinstating her as captain in 2021. She also left Katoto off the 2019 World Cup squad.

Three of the biggest stars on the France women’s national team are stepping away from international duties ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

France captain Wendie Renard, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues within the national team in their decisions, which they announced Friday via social media.

Renard wrote in her statement that she “can no longer support the current system, which is far from the requirements of the highest level,” so she would “not be playing in this World Cup in such conditions.” The 32-year-old defender has played for the national team since 2011.

Katoto and Diani pointed to issues with Les Bleues management, though they did not cite coach Corinne Diacre by name. Both forwards called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return to the team.

The World Cup is set to kick off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

France won the title at the round-robin Tournoi de France earlier this week, beating Denmark 1-0 and Uruguay 5-1 and playing to a 0-0 draw against Norway. Renard started all three of the matches, Diani two of them. Katoto is recovering from an ACL tear she sustained last July.

“My face can hide the pain, but my heart hurts and I don’t want to hurt anymore,” Renard wrote in her statement. “Thank you for your support and respect for my decision.”

Marie-Antoinette Katoto is the latest women’s footballer to injure her knee, with the star striker tore her ACL during France’s group-stage win over Belgium on Thursday.

Benjamin Quarez of Le Parisien reported the news Friday. Katoto will miss the remainder of the Women’s Euro due to a ruptured anterior ligament and cracked meniscus, according to Quarez. The French soccer federation confirmed the injury.

Katoto exited France’s second group-stage match of the Euros in the 15th minute after clutching her knee. The 23-year-old emerged for the second half on crutches on the sidelines.

With 26 goals in 32 appearances for her country, Katoto is one of France’s most dangerous offensive weapons.

Katoto’s injury comes after a series of high-profile ACL tears, including Spain’s Alexia Putellas and United States’ Catarina Macario.

France will take the pitch without Katoto in the team’s last Group D matchup against Iceland on Monday.

Olympique Lyonnais defensive midfielder Amandine Henry has been left off the France national team for this summer’s European Women’s Championship.

The Euro squad was announced Monday. Lyon’s Eugenie Le Sommer – the all-time top scorer for France – has also been left off.

Henry was captain of the team during the 2019 World Cup, but a number of disagreements between Henry and France head coach Corinne Diacre became public after the tournament, which has led to the souring of their relationship.

“I saw players crying in their rooms,” Henry said of the World Cup. “I personally cried in my room sometimes. I wanted to enjoy the World Cup, but in the end, it was total chaos.”

Diacre has said that the decision to leave Henry off the squad was based on performance. The midfielder has hit back at the coach’s claim, saying the decision was due to her being outspoken. Just last week, Henry opened the scoring in the Champions League final to help lift Lyon over Barcelona 3-1.

Henry also said she “shocked” not to be included on the qualifying team for the tournament. The qualifying rounds started in 2019.

“The call lasted 14 or 15 seconds. I will remember it for the rest of my life,” said Henry. “I was shocked. She said, ‘Amandine, you know my list comes out tomorrow. You won’t be on it in light of your recent performances.’ I was silent for two seconds. And then I said, ‘Okay. Have a good game. Goodbye.”

The tournament begins on July 6, with many of the games already sold out.

The full squad:

Goalkeepers: Mylene Chavas (Bordeaux), Justine Lerond (Metz), Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (Juventus Turin).

Defenders: Selma Bacha (Lyon), Hawa Cissoko (West Ham), Sakina Karchaoui (Paris Saint-Germain), Griedge Mbock (Lyon), Eve Perisset (Bordeaux), Wendie Renard (Lyon), Marion Torrent (Montpellier), Aïssatou Tounkara (Atletico de Madrid).

Midfielders: Charlotte Bilbault (Bordeaux), Kenza Dali (Everton), Grace Geyoro (Paris Saint-Germain), Ella Palis (Bordeaux), Sandie Toletti (Levante).

Forwards: Sandy Baltimore (Paris Saint-Germain), Delphine Cascarino (Lyon), Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris Saint-Germain) , Melvine Malard (Lyon), Clara Matéo (Paris FC), Ouleymata Sarr (Paris FC).

As Women’s World Cup qualifying continues in Europe through September, three teams have already qualified for the 2023 tournament: Spain, Sweden and France.

Sweden booked its ticket as the UEFA Group A winner after a 1-1 draw against Ireland on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso scored twice in a 2-0 victory over Scotland to clinch a spot as the winner of Group B. Spain will be making its third World Cup appearance. France won Group I following a 1-0 win against Slovenia to seal its fifth World Cup berth.

With the three qualifications, a total of eight guaranteed spots remain for European teams in next year’s tournament, plus one spot that will be determined by a playoff tournament.

Both Germany and Norway could make a strong case, with Norway recently returning Ada Hegerberg to its national team. England will also hope to qualify in front of a hometown crowd at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament this summer.

A total of 10 teams have qualified for next year’s World Cup out of a field of 32.

Australia and New Zealand have automatically qualified as hosts while China, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam have all qualified from Asia.