Women’s World Cup 2023: France in-depth team guide and prediction

This team guide is part of a collaboration with the Guardian and other leading newspapers from the nations participating at the Women’s World Cup 2023.

This guide was written by Eric Devin for Get French Football News.

Overview

While women’s football continues to grow, it still suffers from a lack of surprise results at the upper level of the international game. France qualified for the tournament as a group winner from UEFA, winning all ten of their matches. Among UEFA’s nine group winners, only Germany and Italy failed to go undefeated. Since sealing qualification in September, results have been somewhat mixed for France. With Corinne Diacre still at the helm, they lost a pair of friendlies to Sweden and Germany, but have since recovered to beat Norway and win the Tournoi de France.

Since Diacre’s dismissal following ongoing enmity between the manager and several top players, they have played a pair of friendlies, overwhelming Colombia and edging an injury-hit Canada. New manager Hervé Renard will have to contend with several absences through injury, particularly to the team’s forward line, as both Delphine Cascarino and Marie-Antoinette Katoto are unavailable for the tournament. To this end, Renard will look to rely on the veteran striker Eugénie Le Sommer, the country’s all-time leading scorer, to lead the line and as such, the team’s propensity to play a more flowing style of attacking football may be more limited.

At the back, Wendie Renard will again be vital, and with the underrated Juventus goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in goal, defence will be one of Les Bleues’ strong suits. This solid mentality also extends to the team’s outlook vis-a-vis their goals for their time in Australia. With Renard, Le Sommer and several other players in their thirties, the team have been ambitious about exceeding their past performances in the tournament, with Chelsea’s Ève Périsset saying on Friday, “It’s up to us to prepare ourselves well to reach our goal, the last four.”

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The coach

Herve Renard replaced the controversial (but relatively successful) Corinne Diacre in March, but has yet to really put his stamp on the team. Despite having no previous experience in charge of a women’s team, he does have a raft of experience at international level, and has also overachieved in tournaments on short notice in the past, including winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012. At the international level, Renard has often played a 4-2-3-1, but has experimented with three at the back as well. For France, he should favour the former, but could also play with three in midfield.

Star player

Wendie Renard, Olympique Lyonnais

Renard will have plenty of veteran leadership alongside her in the form of players like Eugénie Le Sommer and Amandine Henry, but given that both have been out of favour in recent years, Renard will be the lynchpin for her country in what could be her final World Cup. Physically imposing and elegant on the ball, her leadership and aerial prowess at set pieces make her vital at both ends of the pitch, and if France are to reach their aims in this tournament, her strong play will no doubt be instrumental.

Rising star

Vicki Bècho, Olympique Lyonnais

Just 19, Bècho was quietly impressive for the league champions this season. Her return of two goals and four assists may not catch the eye, but Bècho achieved these numbers in relatively limited minutes. A live wire on the pitch, she is able to operate on either flank, or through the middle, using her outstanding technical ability. She also brings exceptional numbers in terms of her ability to press as well, and looks to be an ideal option to disrupt a match late on.

Did you know?

Lyon’s Amel Majri became the first active French international to return to the pitch after becoming a mother. Her daughter, Maryam, will turn one during the tournament, on July 5, but she’s already a part of the set-up for Les Bleues, having joined the team at their April camp at Clairefontaine.

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Standing of women’s football in France

D1 Féminin is one of Europe’s top leagues, led by Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain, but with a cadre of other strong teams as well, including up-and-coming Paris FC. The national team’s matches and the league are broadcast domestically by Canal+, France Télévisions and M6, all national channels. Moreover, the league also has strength in depth, as evidenced by five domestically based players who play at clubs apart from those two having been called up.

Realistic aim at the World Cup?

France have reached at least the quarterfinals of each of the last three World Cups, and will aim to get as far in this edition. The veteran players themselves are keenly aware that this may be their last chance at silverware, with Le Sommer recently expressing a goal of reach the last four, saying, “It’s a big goal, and we know it’s going to be difficult but we have to aim high and have ambitions given the level of our team.”