The French women’s national team will be heading into this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup with a bunch of experienced players, but none more than Olympique Lyon’s defender and team captain Wendie Renard.
The 32-year-old has been an ever-present figure in the French team since she made her debut in 2011 and will be heading to Australia and New Zealand to partake in her third Women’s World Cup outing.
Préparation lancée hier soir contre l'Irlande avec ce premier match amical ????
En route vers le mondial, on continue ???? pic.twitter.com/XmxwJQ2mkN— Wendie Renard (@WRenard) July 7, 2023
Renard had previously withdrawn from the Les Bleues following a rift with former coach Corinne Diacre. However, following the hiring of Frenchman Herve Renard, she has since returned to the team and is ready to lead them to their fifth appearance at the football Mundial.
The 6-foot-2 defender, who is as tough and tactical as they come, has the joint-ninth most appearances (145) and the eighth-most goals (34) for the French team, and she will be looking to add to that number when they begin their journey for a first-ever triumph at the Women’s World Cup.
Renard led Les Bleues to a quarterfinal finish in 2019 when they hosted the competition, finishing with four goals, the most by a defender in that edition of the tournament.
The French team are drawn in Group F with Brazil, Jamaica, and debutants Panama, and Renard is expected to lead them out on the turf when their journey in Oceania begins on July 23 against the Raggae Girlz of Jamaica at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
