There was a crowd and lots of inquiries. The Blues are troubled by injuries, inconsistent results, various tactical concerns, and Kheira Hamraoui’s surprising return, which could cause anxiety before Denmark is welcomed on Wednesday at 9:10 p.m. at the Tournoi de France. This is five months before the World Cup.

Can the sold-out, rural Francis-Le-Basser stadium in Laval and the lower stakes of this friendly match placate the French ladies as they prepare for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (July 20–20, 2018)?

Three losses in the last seven games, including a 2-1 loss to Germany in the Euro 2016 semi-final, are not encouraging for Corinne Deacon’s team ahead of the third Tournoi de France, which also pits Les Bleues against Uruguay and Norway.

Diani on Hamraoui: “I will refrain from making any remarks so as not to offend.”

“I think we should get to know one another better. Without it, things at the World Cup can get tough,” attacker Kadidiatou Diani said in an AFP interview. As the Parisian hopes, the environment is not the best for honing automatisms or “developing (a) gaming identity.”

Kheira Hamraoui’s unexpected comeback, a year after his previous appearance, does in fact raise some doubts about the locker room. The 33-year-old midfielder, who was recalled 15 months after being attacked in the sight of her former teammate Aminata Diallo, who is thought to have sponsored her, still has chilly ties with several PSG and Les Bleues partners, including “Kadi Diani or Sandy Baltimore.

“I’m going to refrain from saying anything crude. In regards to Hamraoui’s return, Diani retorted, “It would be better if I didn’t. Baltimore is still planning a training-field matchup with Hamraoui in April, which will mark the beginning of the latter’s extended suspension until October.

What cause for concern? Wendie Renard, the captain, kicked into touch when questioned on Tuesday. “Tensions don’t exist. She hasn’t been in the group in a while, but today she was chosen, and everything is fine, affirmed the Lyon defender. Corinne Deacon had stated that she would “not make a huge case out of the Hamraoui case” last week.

However, in February 2022, when Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto were celebrating a goal in honor of Diallo in front of Hamraoui, who was watching from the bench of substitutes, tensions had abruptly flared out in the middle of a rally. This time, Katoto is not present due to long-term knee pain.

Not everyone is missing, including the striker. In addition to Sakina Karchaoui (ankle) and Selma Bacha, France is also without left wingers Griedge Mbock (knee) and Griedge Mbock (knee) (thigh).

Uncertainty surrounds the choice

Deacon, unpredictable in his list-making, stepped aside to cope with these absences. She is placing her bets on winger Diani, who loves to play on the right but stated that she was willing to “sacrifice” herself, similar to at PSG, as a goal scorer.

Ouleymata Sarr, a frequent substitute for Paris FC who is barred by Mathilde Bourdieu and who is not called up despite being the second-highest scorer in Division 1 (D1) behind Diani, is the only other genuine N.9 in the team. Additionally, Bacha and Karchaoui are not substituted position for position on the left wing of the defense.

“The team includes lefties. There are right-handed guys on our team that can also play left. We have a number of solutions, particularly with Estelle Cascarino,” the coach argued on Thursday. Cascarino, who has just joined Manchester United and has been called up for the first time in two years, is a central defender by trade, with the intention of developing… in the middle.

A few days after leaving PSG on loan, she says, “Midfielder, it’s a direction that I wanted to give to my career,” while recognizing that she has “always helped out on the side.”

Will this February course provide Les Bleues with enough learning given the circumstances? Diani cautions that because there are numerous injuries, the reading will unavoidably be slightly distorted. However, the French no longer have the luxury of delay. Only a rally is scheduled for them after the Tournoi de France before the World Cup.