REAL MADRID
Real Madrid’s Feller overlooked by France despite impressive form for Las Blancas
Naomie Feller has not been included in Hervé Renard’s squad for France’s UEFA Nations League clashes with Norway later this month.
Real Madrid forward Naomie Feller has again been left out of the France squad, despite her impressive start to the season for the Spanish club.
Feller - who has been capped six times - was not among the 24 players called up by France head coach Hervé Renard on Thursday, as Les Bleues prepare for a UEFA Nations League double header against Norway on 27 and 31 October.
A part of Renard’s France squad for this summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the 21-year-old was also overlooked for September’s Nations League wins over Portugal and Austria.
French chasing Nations League finals place
One of just three teams with a 100% record so far in the Nations League, the French sit top of Group A2 and are on course to reach the finals in February.
The tournament’s top two teams will earn qualification for the 2024 Olympics - although France’s place at the Paris Games is already assured as they are hosts.
For the upcoming match-ups with Norway, Renard has opted for the experience of forwards such as Eugénie Le Sommer, Kadidiatou Diani and Viviane Asseyi, while less established figures like Sandy Baltimore and Clara Matéo, and the uncapped Mathilde Bourdieu, have also been given the nod over Feller.
Madrid team-mate Toletti is given France nod
On Wednesday, Feller starred in Madrid’s 3-0 Women’s Champions League second-round win over Valerenga, scoring once as Alberto Toril’s side secured a 5-1 aggregate triumph to book their place in the group stage.
Her compatriot Sandie Toletti was also on the scoresheet for Madrid - and has been included in France’s latest squad.
Among leading goalscorers in Spain this season
In addition to netting in the Champions League, Feller has scored three times in the Liga F this term, helping her club to five wins out of five in the Spanish top flight.
A summer 2022 signing from Reims, she lies third in the Liga F goal charts - one behind club-mate Signe Bruun and Madrid CFF’s Rachael Kundananji - and is doing her bit to make up for the absence of star forward Caroline Weir, who is recovering from a ruptured ACL.
In Madrid’s most recent Liga F game on Saturday, Feller scored one and set up two more in a 5-2 thumping of Granada.
Las Blancas are second in the league table, behind champions Barcelona on goal difference.