France emerge from turbulent times with World Cup hopes renewed
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The great underachievers in women's international football, France are hoping a late move to appoint Herve Renard as coach can make them genuine contenders at the World Cupafter a turbulent few months threatened to derail their campaign entirely.
Renard gave up a lucrative contract with the Saudi Arabia men's team to answer the call from his country after Corinne Diacre was sacked in March.
Diacre had been in charge since 2017 and oversaw France's exit from the last WorldCup as hosts in the quarter-finals to the United States in 2019. Her position became untenable following a revolt by leading players.
Captain Wendie Renard had effectively said she would not go to the World Cup, which starts next week, if Diacre stayed because she could «no longer support the current system».
Fellow stars Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto followed her lead in making their dislike for Diacre clear, and a change had to be made if Les Bleues were to stand any chance of going far in Australia and New Zealand.
Milan at crossroads after favourites Tonali and Maldini shown the door
FootballThe 54-year-old Renard, who is no relation to the France skipper, accepted a deal which will also see him lead the team at the Paris Olympics.
He immediately set about turning the page on the mutiny that cost his predecessor her job.
«I am focused on the present and the future,» he told AFP.
«I have not looked at what happened in the past. I have a fresh view on things having come from outside,» added the man who led Saudi to a stunning victory over Lionel Messi's Argentinain the group stage of the Qatar World Cup.
Big paycutRenard knows what it takes to win a major
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