FRANCE
Get ready to watch the host nation France perform at their home Olympics. Armed with key veteran players, rising young stars, and a home field advantage, these players are looking to turn their recent success into their first major international victory. With a new coach bringing new harmony to the team and a champion’s attitude, France is ready to finally get their hands on a medal. So, prepare to watch these athletes take on some of the best competition in women’s soccer and make their mark on their country.
Why France?
France hosting the Olympics makes them an interesting team to watch, as the nation tries to navigate all it takes to host an Olympics. How the country adapts to the spike in tourism, navigates the challenges of setting up the infrastructure, and responds to the questions asked about their nation will all make France an interesting country to watch across the Olympics.
The French women’s national team has had great success on the international stage but are yet to get their hands on a major international trophy, something they will be seeking to change this summer. Their combination of key veteran players and exciting youth will be worth watching. With a large portion of the team playing for European giant Olympique Lyonnais, not only do their players have extensive experience at the highest level of competition in Europe, but many of them play together regularly, giving them an edge in cohesiveness. New coach Hervé Renard taking over after the extremely controversial Corinne Diacre left behind a toxic environment, if he can draw on these team connections and unity, France, with their nation behind them, will be a force to be reckoned with this summer.
France: Route to Qualifying
The road to the 2024 Paris Olympics for France alone has been smooth. The automatic qualification of the host nation meant France’s spot was sealed back in 2017 when the bid for Paris 2024 was accepted. Despite this automatic qualification, France proved why they are meant to be there when they placed second in UEFA Nations League, losing to reigning World Cup winner’s Spain 2-0 in the finals; a second place that would have secured them qualifications nonetheless.
Coach's Corner: Hervé Renard in Focus
Hervé Renard became the head coach of the French women’s team just months before the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Renard took over from Corinne Diacre who was fired after six years riddled with controversy and public feuds when the players eventually revolted, refusing to play under her anymore. Renard led the team to the quarterfinals, losing to Australia on penalties, and continuing France’s history of trophies being just out of reach. Renard comes in with previous national team experience, but no experience in the women’s game. He previously coached the Saudi Arabia men’s national team, where he was the only manager to beat Messi’s Argentina side in the 2022 World Cup.
Key Players
Politics & Controversy
Below are just some of the politics surrounding and controversies facing the French women's national team.
1. New coach Renard has a wealth of national team experience, but has never coached a women’s team before, will he be able
to adapt?
2. Diacre’s time as coach created many rifts, can the team overcome these divides or has she done irreversible damage?
5. Lyon dominates their league, will this lack of competition disadvantage these players on the international level?
3. Player protests
over leadership received reproach from their federation, can their federation let that go?
4. An attack on a PSG player implicated a teammate, fracturing the team, will this continue to be felt on the national team?
