Hervé Renard did not retain Kheira Hamraoui in his first list at the head of the French women’s team. The coach evokes “a sporting choice”, but the rest of his answer leaves room for a big doubt…
It was one of the many challenges on Hervé Renard’s first list at the head of the French women’s team. Was the new boss of Les Bleues going to summon Kheira Hamraoui, the player who found herself, often despite herself, at the heart of multiple controversies in recent months? The answer fell on Thursday. The Parisian, regularly called by Corinne Deacon during previous gatherings, does not appear in the list of 26 players chosen by the tricolor coach.
Why ? “I will give you a political answer”first joked Hervé Renard. “I was not there, I was in Saudi Arabia, I did not follow the case”he confided, before being more serious. “It is above all a sporting choice, explained the former coach of Sochaux and Lille. And then, when you form a group, there are a lot of elements to take into consideration, and then you have to determine your choice. This one (this group) is without Kheira, we will see what the coming weeks have in store for us. »
Simpler without Hamraoui?
The argument of sporting choice can quite agree, but the result is heavy with meaning. It is thus believed to understand that the presence of Kheira Hamraoui could hinder some of her teammates. It’s hard not to think of those with whom she got angry following the attack she suffered, namely Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani, who are still her club partners, however. The two Parisians are currently injured, and absent for this rally, but Renard has obviously decided that it was easier for him to do without Hamraoui.
This non-selection falls on the day after the summons of Corinne Deacon by the courtsin the investigation into the attack against Kheira Hamraoui at the end of 2021. The former coach of the Blue, questioned about the relations between Kheira Hamraoui and Aminata Diallo, would have been pressured to dismiss the former player of the FC Barcelona.
