France's bold new era: An Einstein quote, legends consigned to the past and players' shock

New York Times

a day ago

'Albert Einstein said that madness was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,' said Laurent Bonadei in a press conference before France's Nations League fixtures in late May.
'But I want different results, so I make different choices.'
When the news broke on May 21 that France's head coach had omitted legendary captain Wendie Renard from the Nations League matches and, ultimately, the European Championship, everyone, including the players, was in shock.
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The decision was 'almost impossible for them to accept', Bonadei said in his press conference the next day. 'I would understand if they were angry with me, if they were sad.'
Bonadei phoned Renard — she has 168 caps — that Wednesday morning to inform the soon-to-be 35-year-old of the news. She was stunned. Renard said she only found out about not making the Euro squad when watching Bonadei's press conference in which he announced the list on June 5.
'It's the coach's decision, and I have to respect and accept it,' Renard said in an interview with France TV channel, La Martinique, Premiere. 'But it's incomprehensible. There is disbelief, injustice. I can wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror. I gave it my all.'
In hindsight that decision may not have been the wisest. Centre-back Griege Mbock, his new captain, will miss the opening game against England on Saturday with a calf injury.
Renard was not the only one who failed to make the cut. On the Tuesday evening, he told France's top goalscorer and most-capped player, Eugenie Le Sommer and San Diego Wave's Kenza Dali, they would also be omitted. Between them the trio have played 444 matches for France.
Bonadei, who likes to be close to the squad and sends them messages of encouragement during difficult periods, has travelled to the United States, Saudi Arabia and other European countries to have in-person meetings with individuals.
He said he had to be 'smart' and 'elegant' about the timing and did not want to disturb their domestic season — nor Le Sommer's birthday on the Sunday. Not one of the three players saw it coming.
Bonadei denied the decision was related to the players' sporting level, nodding to Renard's good performance for Lyonnes against Paris Saint-Germain in the league play-off final in mid May. 'It's not a decision against these players, it's a decision for the French national team,' he said. 'It's for the younger players who represent the future of the France team.'
Bonadei was fully aware of the impact of his decision and he did not take it lightly. 'There hasn't been a day that I haven't thought about it since the April gathering,' he said to French media.
Renard had 'given 30,000, 40,000 per cent for this shirt which I hold above everything else,' she said. 'That will always be the case because I believe my career is not over. It's the coach's decision, but everything in its own time.'
Former France international and French Football Federation (FFF) secretary general Laura Georges' initial reaction to Renard's absence was 'sadness', describing it as 'really hard', especially before a major tournament.
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'She (Renard) is an experienced player, a well-respected team-mate,' she told The Athletic. 'I felt sad because it's about the timing. It's complicated, when it's the last camp and you don't get a call.
'The best way for the coach is to prepare ahead and discuss it with the players. I won't judge, but as a player, I would need to have some time to discuss with the coach, especially ahead of the competition.
'Will they miss her (Renard)? Of course. It's always good to have good leadership, good people who are able to stand up.'
Lucy Bronze, who describes Renard, her former Lyonnes team-mate and a good friend, as the 'epitome' of a captain, was shocked too. 'Everything she did as a person and a player, there was nothing you could fault,' she said.
France centre-back Maelle Lakrar 'did not expect these choices'. 'I am perhaps a little closer to Wendie because she helped me during my debut with the national team,' she said. 'I will always be grateful to her.'
Bonadei, conscious of the effects on his tightly-knit squad, explained the decision to his players. 'There are very strong friendships,' he said. 'That can create collateral damage.'
Although the decision came out of the blue for Renard, there were warning signs. She withdrew from the April camp with a calf injury and Bonadei was satisfied with the new centre-back partnership of Griedge Mbock and Lakrar.
'When I took up my position, I said that everyone had a chance but no one was indispensable,' he said at the time. 'That's still the case. This team has to learn to play without Wendie, Eugenie, Marie (Katoto) and others.'
The 'other' was midfielder Dali, who, according to a source briefed on the matter, was 'devastated'. 'It's difficult because I've been playing maybe some of my best football,' she told The Guardian. 'There are a lot of lies in the story that's been told but I will tell my side after the Euros.'
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The 33-year-old, who has had an impressive season in her maiden National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) campaign — a move we have been told was encouraged by Bonadei himself — was an important member of the leadership group.
Bonadei said she was not selected as he wanted more attackers in the squad, especially because the pressing intensity he wants requires more substitutions up front. But those close to Dali believe she was collateral damage from Bonadei's decision to drop Renard. The rationale being that if the official line was he wanted a younger squad then they would have to leave out other older players too. But Bonadei said: 'It's not a question of injury, level or age,' citing 32-year-old Amel Majri as an example.
Ever since Bonadei took over as head coach from Herve Renard (no relation to Wendie) after a disappointing quarter-final exit at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he sought a different direction, turning to a younger crop of players.
Part of his reasoning for his decision to leave out such experienced squad members was to give more players major tournament experience, especially with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. He noted Toletti played her first World Cup, in 2023, at the age of 28.
The graphic below shows a blend of youth and experience. The majority of players are in their peak years and there is only one player in each position aged 30 or above, while Bonadei has opted for some very youthful defenders.
Bonadei has also changed Sakina Karchaoui's position, moving her into midfield, recalled Manchester United's Melvine Malard, who did not feature under Renard at the World Cup or the Olympics, and called up Everton's Kelly Gago, who made her debut in October.
With their captain gone, Bonadei handed the armband to 30-year-old experienced centre-back Mbock, a 'quiet force' in George's words, only for her to be unavailable.
In January Bonadei created a leadership group of 12 players and even asked Renard and Le Sommer to give their recommendations. In Renard's absence in April, Mbock was named captain for the first game, followed by goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin for the second match.
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On the eve of their opening game against England, however, Bonadei had still not decided who would captain the side in Mbock's absence. It will be between the trio of midfield vice-captains Karchaoui, Sandie Toletti or Grace Geyoro who form a group of nine players responsible for relaying information to the rest of the team.
'Even if she doesn't start the match, she'll be there with us,' said Karchaoui, who joined Bonadei at the pre-match press conference on Friday. 'She always has the right words to say. We have a complete, strong group that can count on everyone. No one is irreplaceable: that's one of our strengths.'
Mbock's injury forces Bonadei to start, most probably, 21-year-old Alice Sombath of Lyonnes who is at her first major tournament and has just four caps. Alongside Lakrar, who played at the 2023 World Cup, they form a completely new centre-back partnership. Bonadei was particularly impressed by Sombath's performance against Arsenal, and notably England's No 9 Alessia Russo, in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal — Lyon won 2-1 before losing 5-3 on aggregate. On Friday he praised her 'emotional control', and precise passes. 'She is a source of great satisfaction, and her performance against Arsenal was a benchmark,' he said.
Sombath, however, has lacked gametime this season, starting just seven league games. However, she has learned from the best, including Mbock and Renard at Lyonnes. Should she start, Saturday's game will be one of, if not, the most important game of her career. Another option could be Paris Saint-Germain's Thiniba Samoura, 21, with seven caps, also playing in her first major tournament.
But Bonadei is not concerned about a lack of experience in defence. He admitted Mbock's injury could be 'detrimental' but has 'complete confidence' in her potential replacements.
Despite missing familiar faces, France's strength remains in the technical and physical quality of their individual players, especially offensively. Their options in attack are frightening: Sandy Baltimore, Kadidiatou Diani, Delphine Cascarino, Clara Mateo and Katoto.
'I am not here to take unconsidered risks,' said Bonadei. 'This team is perfectly capable of doing just as well without them (the missing players).'
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Recent results against Switzerland (4-0), Iceland (2-0), Belgium (5-0) and Brazil (3-2) proved that. The latter, in which they came from two goals down, certainly showed togetherness in adversity.
Bonadei, however, has maintained for several months that France are 'challengers', with an eye on the 2027 World Cup but, in a mixed message, also said they want to win the Euros.
For the first time since 2017 they go into the tournament with fewer expectations. They hosted the 2019 World Cup, were strong favourites at Euro 2022, attracted a lot of attention at the 2023 World Cup after Herve Renard moved from the men's game to take charge and they were the host country for the 2024 Olympics.
When Herve Renard was appointed, the FFF publicly announced the aim was to at least make the semi-finals of the World Cup and Olympics but this time there has been no such proclamation.
Perhaps this is an attempt to relieve some pressure from his team. Barring Euro 2022, when France progressed to the semi-finals, they have failed to make it beyond the quarter-finals for eight consecutive major tournaments.
In October, Bonadei brought in psychologist Thomas Sammut, who has worked with Olympians such as four-time gold medal-winning swimmer Leon Marchand. This is not the first time they have had a team psychologist but Sammut is part of everything, sits on the bench at matches, attends team meetings, conducts individual sessions and also visits players at their clubs.
Ironically, it is partially thanks to former captain Renard, who temporarily withdrew from the squad in March 2023 until changes were made at the top, that the FFF bolstered the team's resources in the lead-up to that year's World Cup.
Georges, who describes the team as 'talented', 'technical' and 'united' does not know why France have never been able to reach a major tournament final.
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'It's hard to explain,' she says. 'Even the players… What we expect from them is to be more consistent in their performance. Why they can't do it in major moments, I cannot tell you. Some people say it's about mentality.
'I think this team can win it. It's a big statement from the coach. He took the decision to change it. This is new and it's going to be interesting to watch.'
(Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; Getty Images)