Aissatou Tounkara is confident of the France women’s national team preparedness to take on Brazil in their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Group F tie on Saturday even as captain Wendie Renard nurses a calf injury.
The 33-year old Olympique Lyon Feminin defender sustained the injury after coming under a challenge from Jamaica skipper Khadija Shaw during the goalless draw in Sydney on Sunday which ultimately led to the sending off of the latter for a second bookable offence.
There are doubts over Renard’s availability for the Brazil game as she did light training on a bike on Wednesday while sidelined from the rest of the players who engaged in proper warm-up exercises.
Tounkara, who is of Gambian descent, acknowledged that things will be difficult without the captain’s presence but the team must adjust in her potential absence.
“We’ve been preparing for a month, so we’ve been preparing as well as possible all year long to be able to play and be ready if the head coach calls on us,” she said after the training session.
“Afterwards, if Wendie doesn’t play, no matter which defender will play, we will do everything to be ready and to make up for her absence. But in any case, what is certain is that we are always preparing to be ready for any eventuality.”
Vivi ???? Aïssa pic.twitter.com/bMhFgTQv8G
— Equipe de France Féminine (@equipedefranceF) July 26, 2023
Coach Herve Renard has received a big boost with Selma Bacha and Elisa de Almeida back in training after missing the opening game due to injury. Naomie Feller however missed training and remains sidelined.
France need a victory to keep their qualification hopes into the round of 16 alive while a win for Brazil will send them through to the knockout phase for the seventh consecutive time.
