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.
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.”
Merci pour votre soutien et le respect de ma décision. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/MOryINwvb0
— Wendie Renard (@WRenard) February 24, 2023
— Marie-Antoinette (@MarieKatoto) February 24, 2023
— Kadidiatou Diani 🎀 (@kady944) February 24, 2023
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.
🚨 Marie-Antoinette #Katoto est forfait pour le reste de l’Euro féminin.
— Benjamin Quarez (@B_Quarez) July 15, 2022
Les examens ont révélé une rupture du ligament antérieur; ménisque fissuré. #FRA #PSG @leparisiensport
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.
Paris Saint-Germain took the first leg of its Women’s Champion League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich with a 2-1 win on Tuesday.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto netted the brace to put PSG ahead of Bayern. She notched her first goal in the 19th minute.
.@MarieKatoto who else?! @PSG_Feminines lead in Munich ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/3aptpCYC3T
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 22, 2022
She would score again in the 71st minute, heading in a corner kick from Sandy Baltimore.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto does it again 🤩
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 22, 2022
Bayern Munich vs. PSG
🇬🇧🎙👉 https://t.co/EYWgUCMj8Z
🇩🇪🎙👉 https://t.co/AkkqzSW4eI
🇫🇷🎙👉 https://t.co/MjXDhLoBsZ pic.twitter.com/eEIaV8oQgF
Katoto has been unstoppable over her last three UWCL games, scoring four times on her last seven shots, according to DAZN Football.
Klara Bühl got one back for Bayern in the 83rd minute, but her team was unable to notch a second in the loss.
The two teams will meet again on March 30 in the second leg of their quarterfinal matchup.
Barcelona and Real Madrid also face off Tuesday in the first leg of the quarterfinals. On Wednesday, Juventus will take on Olympique Lyonnais, while Arsenal will go up against Wolfsburg.
The second legs of the quarterfinals will take place next week.
- Wednesday, March 30:
- Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich
- Thursday, March 31:
- Wolfsburg vs. Arsenal
- Olympique Lyonnais vs. Juventus
While the semifinal matchups are still to be determined, the first leg is scheduled to take place on April 23 and the second leg on April 30. The championship final will take place on May 21.