2023 Women's World Cup - Australia & New Zealand

The #FIFAWWC 2023 Groups are set!

Which one is the most exciting? #BeyondGreatness

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) February 23, 2023

"I can no longer endorse the current system, far from the requirements required by the highest level. I will not do this World Cup in such conditions. My face can hide the pain, but my heart hurts. I don't want to hurt anymore" Wendie Renard says she will not play at the @FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/vuTi2fhyJx

— Asif Burhan (@AsifBurhan) February 24, 2023

On paper, France are one of the strongest teams in the competition. Their squad has experience in the likes of Wendie Renard as well as young, exciting attacking players such as Marie Antoinette-Katoto and Sandy Baltimore. But it is the worst kept secret in the women’s game that manager Corinne Diacre has had an acrimonious relationship with several of her star players.

Diacre made headlines in 2014 when she became the first woman to coach a men’s professional side in France after taking over Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot. In 2017, she left to join the women’s national team following that summer’s Euros. Immediately, she stripped the then four-time Champions League winner Renard of the captaincy, claiming the defender did not play as well for France as she did for her club team, Lyon. Renard remained in the squad but the armband was instead given to Amandine Henry.

Ahead of the 2019 World Cup, which France hosted, Diacre left Katoto out of her squad despite the forward being the top scorer in France with 22 goals that year. Diacre’s goal was to reach the final of the tournament but her side were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the United States, the eventual winners.

The fall-out from their exit started with Diacre criticising striker Eugenie Le Sommer, France’s all-time leading goalscorer, during a television interview. Diacre complained that Le Sommer had not followed her tactics in the game and had strayed out of position. At this point, several players started to speak out against their manager.

Gaetane Thiney accused her of having outdated tactics. She was promptly dropped. Long-serving goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi decided to ‘indefinitely retire’ from the national team. In an interview with Lyon TV, she said: ‘Winning a title with this coach seems impossible to me. We play in a very, very negative environment. I don't see myself winning anything with this manager, and a lot of players think so too but don't say it.’

Bouhaddi has since insisted she will not play for France while Diacre remains manager. Further controversy arose when Henry was left out of the squad for Euro qualifiers in October 2020, with Diacre claiming she was not at the required level after recovering from an injury.

A month later, Henry spoke out about what had unfolded in the French camp at the 2019 World Cup. ‘I saw players crying in their rooms,’ Henry said. ‘I personally cried in my room sometimes. I wanted to enjoy the World Cup, but in the end, it was total chaos.’ In September 2021, Diacre handed the captain’s armband back to Renard.

pic.twitter.com/h2avCoUftR

— Marie-Antoinette (@MarieKatoto) February 24, 2023

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— Kadidiatou Diani (@kady944) February 24, 2023

Updates per @lequipe:

The decision of firing Corinne Diacre has been postponed by the FFF due to their president resigning.

A special group has been formed to make a decision by the 9th of March. https://t.co/fji0egQuYg

— ata football (@atafball) February 28, 2023

Two women elected to top Canada Soccer Board positions

Charmaine Crooks becomes Canada Soccer’s new acting President and first woman and person of colour to lead organisation.

Kelly Brown will take on the position of acting Vice-President.

— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) March 1, 2023

The biggest women’s soccer tournament in the world is just four months away and @838_carlisle is ranking every @FIFAWWC contender

WARNING: it’s spicy ️ https://t.co/8WlpNlvLyc

— Gaming Society (@GamingSociety) March 1, 2023

:JUST IN: Corinne Diacre will be dismissed this Thursday after a meeting of the executive committee of the French Football Federation. The 12 members of the highest body of French football decided in favor of a departure of the 48-year-old technician. https://t.co/EW8sca8pFB

— SHE scores bangers (@SHEscoresbanger) March 8, 2023