{"id":241375,"date":"2025-07-06T00:20:21","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T00:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/241375\/"},"modified":"2025-07-06T00:20:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T00:20:21","slug":"frances-bold-new-era-an-einstein-quote-legends-consigned-to-the-past-and-players-shock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/241375\/","title":{"rendered":"France\u2019s bold new era: An Einstein quote, legends consigned to the past and players\u2019 shock"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cAlbert Einstein said that madness was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,\u201d said Laurent Bonadei in a press conference before France\u2019s Nations League fixtures in late May.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I want different results, so I make different choices.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the news broke on May 21 that France\u2019s head coach had omitted legendary captain Wendie Renard from the Nations League matches and, ultimately, the European Championship, everyone, including the players, was in shock.<\/p>\n

The decision was \u201calmost impossible for them to accept\u201d, Bonadei said in his press conference the next day. \u201cI would understand if they were angry with me, if they were sad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bonadei phoned Renard \u2014 she has 168 caps \u2014 that Wednesday morning to inform the soon-to-be 35-year-old of the news. She was stunned. Renard said she only found out about not making the Euro squad when watching Bonadei\u2019s press conference in which he announced the list on June 5.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the coach\u2019s decision, and I have to respect and accept it,\u201d Renard said in an interview with France TV channel, La Martinique, Premiere. \u201cBut it\u2019s incomprehensible. There is disbelief, injustice. I can wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror. I gave it my all.\u201d<\/p>\n

In hindsight that decision may not have been the wisest. Centre-back Griege Mbock, his new captain, will miss the opening game against England on Saturday with a calf injury.<\/p>\n

Renard was not the only one who failed to make the cut<\/a>. On the Tuesday evening, he told France\u2019s top goalscorer and most-capped player, Eugenie Le Sommer and San Diego Wave\u2019s Kenza Dali, they would also be omitted. Between them the trio have played 444 matches for France.<\/p>\n

Follow the Women\u2019s Euros on The Athletic<\/p>\n

Bonadei, who likes to be close to the squad and sends them messages of encouragement during difficult periods, has travelled to the United States, Saudi Arabia and other European countries to have in-person meetings with individuals.<\/p>\n

He said he had to be \u201csmart\u201d and \u201celegant\u201d about the timing and did not want to disturb their domestic season \u2014 nor Le Sommer\u2019s birthday on the Sunday. Not one of the three players saw it coming.<\/p>\n

Bonadei denied the decision was related to the players\u2019 sporting level, nodding to Renard\u2019s good performance for Lyonnes against Paris Saint-Germain in the league play-off final in mid May. \u201cIt\u2019s not a decision against these players, it\u2019s a decision for the French national team,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s for the younger players who represent the future of the France team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bonadei was fully aware of the impact of his decision and he did not take it lightly. \u201cThere hasn\u2019t been a day that I haven\u2019t thought about it since the April gathering,\u201d he said to French media.<\/p>\n

Renard had \u201cgiven 30,000, 40,000 per cent for this shirt which I hold above everything else,\u201d she said. \u201cThat will always be the case because I believe my career is not over. It\u2019s the coach\u2019s decision, but everything in its own time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former France international and French Football Federation (FFF) secretary general Laura Georges\u2019 initial reaction to Renard\u2019s absence was \u201csadness\u201d, describing it as \u201creally hard\u201d, especially before a major tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe (Renard) is an experienced player, a well-respected team-mate,\u201d she told The Athletic. \u201cI felt sad because it\u2019s about the timing. It\u2019s complicated, when it\u2019s the last camp and you don\u2019t get a call.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best way for the coach is to prepare ahead and discuss it with the players. I won\u2019t judge, but as a player, I would need to have some time to discuss with the coach, especially ahead of the competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill they miss her (Renard)? Of course. It\u2019s always good to have good leadership, good people who are able to stand up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucy Bronze, who describes Renard, her former Lyonnes team-mate and a good friend, as the \u201cepitome\u201d of a captain, was shocked too. \u201cEverything she did as a person and a player, there was nothing you could fault,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

France centre-back Maelle Lakrar \u201cdid not expect these choices\u201d. \u201cI am perhaps a little closer to Wendie because she helped me during my debut with the national team,\u201d she said. \u201cI will always be grateful to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bonadei, conscious of the effects on his tightly-knit squad, explained the decision to his players. \u201cThere are very strong friendships,\u201d he said. \u201cThat can create collateral damage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although the decision came out of the blue for Renard, there were warning signs. She withdrew from the April camp with a calf injury and Bonadei was satisfied with the new centre-back partnership of Griedge Mbock and Lakrar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I took up my position, I said that everyone had a chance but no one was indispensable,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cThat\u2019s still the case. This team has to learn to play without Wendie, Eugenie, Marie (Katoto) and others.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u2018other\u2019 was midfielder Dali, who, according to a source briefed on the matter, was \u201cdevastated\u201d. \u201cIt\u2019s difficult because I\u2019ve been playing maybe some of my best football,\u201d she told The Guardian<\/a>. \u201cThere are a lot of lies in the story that\u2019s been told but I will tell my side after the Euros.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 33-year-old, who has had an impressive season in her maiden National Women\u2019s Soccer League (NWSL) campaign \u2014 a move we have been told was encouraged by Bonadei himself \u2014 was an important member of the leadership group.<\/p>\n

Bonadei said she was not selected as he wanted more attackers in the squad, especially because the pressing intensity he wants requires more substitutions up front. But those close to Dali believe she was collateral damage from Bonadei\u2019s decision to drop Renard. The rationale being that if the official line was he wanted a younger squad then they would have to leave out other older players too. But Bonadei said: \u201cIt\u2019s not a question of injury, level or age,\u201d citing 32-year-old Amel Majri as an example.<\/p>\n

Ever since Bonadei took over as head coach from Herve Renard (no relation to Wendie) after a disappointing quarter-final exit at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he sought a different direction, turning to a younger crop of players.<\/p>\n

Part of his reasoning for his decision to leave out such experienced squad members was to give more players major tournament experience, especially with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. He noted Toletti played her first World Cup, in 2023, at the age of 28.<\/p>\n

The graphic below shows a blend of youth and experience. The majority of players are in their peak years and there is only one player in each position aged 30 or above, while Bonadei has opted for some very youthful defenders.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Bonadei has also changed Sakina Karchaoui\u2019s position, moving her into midfield, recalled Manchester United\u2019s Melvine Malard, who did not feature under Renard at the World Cup or the Olympics, and called up Everton\u2019s Kelly Gago, who made her debut in October.<\/p>\n

With their captain gone, Bonadei handed the armband to 30-year-old experienced centre-back Mbock, a \u201cquiet force\u201d in George\u2019s words, only for her to be unavailable.<\/p>\n

In January Bonadei created a leadership group of 12 players and even asked Renard and Le Sommer to give their recommendations. In Renard\u2019s absence in April, Mbock was named captain for the first game, followed by goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin for the second match.<\/p>\n

On the eve of their opening game against England, however, Bonadei had still not decided who would captain the side in Mbock\u2019s absence. It will be between the trio of midfield vice-captains Karchaoui, Sandie Toletti or Grace Geyoro who form a group of nine players responsible for relaying information to the rest of the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if she doesn\u2019t start the match, she\u2019ll be there with us,\u201d said Karchaoui, who joined Bonadei at the pre-match press conference on Friday. \u201cShe always has the right words to say. We have a complete, strong group that can count on everyone. No one is irreplaceable: that\u2019s one of our strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mbock\u2019s injury forces Bonadei to start, most probably, 21-year-old Alice Sombath of Lyonnes who is at her first major tournament and has just four caps. Alongside Lakrar, who played at the 2023 World Cup, they form a completely new centre-back partnership. Bonadei was particularly impressed by Sombath\u2019s performance against Arsenal, and notably England\u2019s No 9 Alessia Russo, in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal \u2014 Lyon won 2-1 before losing 5-3 on aggregate. On Friday he praised her \u201cemotional control\u201d, and precise passes. \u201cShe is a source of great satisfaction, and her performance against Arsenal was a benchmark,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sombath, however, has lacked gametime this season, starting just seven league games. However, she has learned from the best, including Mbock and Renard at Lyonnes. Should she start, Saturday\u2019s game will be one of, if not, the most important game of her career. Another option could be Paris Saint-Germain\u2019s Thiniba Samoura, 21, with seven caps, also playing in her first major tournament.<\/p>\n

But Bonadei is not concerned about a lack of experience in defence. He admitted Mbock\u2019s injury could be \u201cdetrimental\u201d but has \u201ccomplete confidence\u201d in her potential replacements.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Griege Mbock will miss the game against England but comes into this tournament as the new France captain (Sebastien Bozon\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Despite missing familiar faces, France\u2019s strength remains in the technical and physical quality of their individual players, especially offensively. Their options in attack are frightening: Sandy Baltimore, Kadidiatou Diani, Delphine Cascarino, Clara Mateo and Katoto.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not here to take unconsidered risks,\u201d said Bonadei. \u201cThis team is perfectly capable of doing just as well without them (the missing players).\u201d<\/p>\n

Recent results against Switzerland (4-0), Iceland (2-0), Belgium (5-0) and Brazil (3-2) proved that. The latter, in which they came from two goals down, certainly showed togetherness in adversity.<\/p>\n

Bonadei, however, has maintained for several months that France are \u201cchallengers\u201d, with an eye on the 2027 World Cup but, in a mixed message, also said they want to win the Euros.<\/p>\n

For the first time since 2017 they go into the tournament with fewer expectations. They hosted the 2019 World Cup, were strong favourites at Euro 2022, attracted a lot of attention at the 2023 World Cup after Herve Renard moved from the men\u2019s game to take charge and they were the host country for the 2024 Olympics.<\/p>\n

When Herve Renard was appointed, the FFF publicly announced the aim was to at least make the semi-finals of the World Cup and Olympics but this time there has been no such proclamation.<\/p>\n

Perhaps this is an attempt to relieve some pressure from his team. Barring Euro 2022, when France progressed to the semi-finals, they have failed to make it beyond the quarter-finals for eight consecutive major tournaments.<\/p>\n

In October, Bonadei brought in psychologist Thomas Sammut, who has worked with Olympians such as four-time gold medal-winning swimmer Leon Marchand. This is not the first time they have had a team psychologist but Sammut is part of everything, sits on the bench at matches, attends team meetings, conducts individual sessions and also visits players at their clubs.<\/p>\n

Ironically, it is partially thanks to former captain Renard, who temporarily withdrew from the squad in March 2023 until changes were made at the top, that the FFF bolstered the team\u2019s resources in the lead-up to that year\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

Georges, who describes the team as \u201ctalented\u201d, \u201ctechnical\u201d and \u201cunited\u201d does not know why France have never been able to reach a major tournament final.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to explain,\u201d she says. \u201cEven the players\u2026 What we expect from them is to be more consistent in their performance. Why they can\u2019t do it in major moments, I cannot tell you. Some people say it\u2019s about mentality.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this team can win it. It\u2019s a big statement from the coach. He took the decision to change it. This is new and it\u2019s going to be interesting to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Illustration: Eamonn Dalton \/ The Athletic; Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cAlbert Einstein said that madness was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":241376,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5309],"tags":[2000,299,36,84559,9201],"class_list":{"0":"post-241375","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-france","8":"tag-eu","9":"tag-europe","10":"tag-france","11":"tag-womens-euros","12":"tag-womens-soccer"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114803430154819749","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=241375"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241375\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/241376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=241375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=241375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=241375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}