He heads towards Portugal for the Blues at the end of the group stage of the European Nations League. But on Tuesday (7:15 p.m.), Hervé Renard will have to do without his strikers Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani, who will both be absent.
The French Football Federation said in a press statement on Monday that “the attackers felt muscle pain in the thigh following the match against Austria,” which ended in a 3-0 victory on Friday.
So the coach made some changes. She added regarding the arrivals: “To strengthen the offensive sector that was weakened by these two packages, the Blue coach summons Melvin Mallard (Manchester United, 21 international matches).” On the defensive side, (coach) Hervé Renard calls up for the first time Hilary Diaz (Girondin de Bordeaux) and Thaniba Samoura (Paris Saint-Germain), who are currently grouped with the U-23 team in Portugal a few kilometers from the Hotel de Bleu.
The goal is to “continue reviewing my squad” and prevent players who have already been warned from being suspended in the semi-finals of the Nations League, which the Blues qualified for on Friday, the coach specified.
On December 11, after the draw, the Blues will know which team they will face in the Final Four from February 21 to 28. World champions Spain are the only other country to have already qualified before the final group day.
