Coach of the French women's team: 'Fate chose Australia;
Against Australia, France drew 0-0 after 120 minutes before losing 6-7 in the penalty shootout yesterday 12/8. This is the third time in a row that France has been eliminated in the quarterfinals, while Australia is in the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup for the first time.
"The score was 50-50, but fate chose Australia," coach Herve Renard said after the match. "If we win, we are kings of the world. But I am nothing because I lost so close."
Renard said that France played a quarter-final that was not easy against an entire nation. Australia is the co-host of the 2023 Women's World Cup with New Zealand and the women's team is heavily invested in the success of the tournament. Besides, goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold is Australia's hero with impressive saves, including three penalties.
"In front of us is a very good goalkeeper from official time, extra time to penalties," the 54-year-old said. "It was she who made the difference."
At the end of the second extra time, Renard sent the penalty shootout expert Solena Durand to replace the main goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. He assessed that Durand had an extraordinary performance when he saved two penalties, but his teammates did not finish the best. However, France now needs to look to the future when the Paris Olympics are just a year away from kicking off. "We will take revenge," Renard said.
In March 2023, Renard left Saudi Arabia to replace Corinne Diacre as the head coach of the troubled France women's team. At that time, captain Wendie Renard considered quitting the World Cup and a series of high-class players were not on the focus list. Coach Renard restored order and recalled top scorer Eugenie Le Sommer. At the tournament, France topped Group F with two victories over Brazil and Panama, then defeated Morocco 4-0 in the 1/8 round.
Renard became the first coach to win both the Men's and Women's World Cups. Before that, he made an impression when he and Saudi Arabia won 2-1 Argentina in the group stage, creating a highlight in the 2022 World Cup.
