French women's football team: Renard and Le Sommer, two key players of the French team, on the sidelines

With almost a month to go before the Women's Euro, the French women's team will complete the group stage of the Nations League by facing Switzerland on May 30 and Iceland on June 3. For these two matches, Laurent Bonadéi unveiled a list on Thursday, May 22, which does not include the names of captain Wendie Renard (168 caps), striker Eugénie Le Sommer (200 caps), holder of the record for goals scored in the French jersey, but also midfielder Kenza Dali (76 caps). "A difficult choice" to make according to the French coach but a decision "for the future of the French team" .

"I am well aware that the impact of these choices will be the focus of everyone's attention. They are strong choices, but it is a decision that I took with a lot of thought and which was difficult to make and to announce to the people concerned," declared the former assistant of Hervé Renard. "These are choices for other players who are younger and who represent the future," explained Laurent Bonadei, who claims to be leading "a three-year project." While the three leaders had made this European championship their last major event with the Blues, "that means a lot of experience lost but it was necessary to give some to others," continued the coach, but "it is not a whim or a madness."

Asked about the likely end of the international careers of Wendie Renard (34), Eugénie Le Sommer (36) and Kenza Dali (33), the coach deflected: "You can never predict the future, it's not up to me to announce" their international retirement. However, it's difficult to imagine the three players being called up again to win a title after the Euro, whether at the 2027 World Cup or the Los Angeles Olympics in three years.

To compensate for the absence of the iconic captain Wendie Renard, the coach called up OL Lyonnes defender Alice Sombath, who has played little this season, as well as Lou Bogaert (PFC), Thiniba Samoura (PSG) and Melwenn N'Dongala (PFC). The central hinge will be made up of Griedge Mbock and Maëlle Lakrar. "Regarding the captaincy, I had already anticipated things because I created a group of 12 players in January and I had asked Wendie and Eugénie to pass the baton," he explained. This season Sakina Karchaoui, Grace Geyoro, Griedge Mbock, Sandie Toletti and Pauline Peyraud-Magnin have worn the armband. "I'm not going to change my method, I'm going to talk to the players because succeeding Wendie Renard is a big task with her charisma, you don't take the armband with your arm raised," he insisted.

The 24 players called up to face Switzerland and Iceland:

Goalkeepers: Lerond, Peyraud-Magnin, Picaud

Defenders: Bacha, Bogaert, De Almeida, Lakrar, Mbock, N'Dongala, Samoura, Sombath

Midfielders: Baltimore, Geyoro, Jean-François, Karchaoui, Majri, Toletti

Forwards: Bussy, Cascarino, Diani, Gago, Katoto, Malard, Mateo