Hervé Renard determined to solve French enigma as Ireland head to Metz

FRENCH ENIGMA: France manager Hervé Renard arrives before the women's international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and France at Tallaght Stadium last July. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

It’s a French enigma Hervé Renard is determined to solve before he says au revoir after the Paris Olympics.

Just why are the aristocrats of France the renowned chokers when it comes to major women’s tournaments?

Their men had their Euro triumph from 1984 to bat away similar accusations until a golden generation won two World Cups and another Euros over a decade up to 2018.

For the women, semi-finals are their peak. And it took until the delayed Euros in England almost two years ago for that stage to be reached across the gamut of World Cup, Euros and Olympic appearances.

All the while, Lyon have reigned supreme across Europe at club level.

Eight Champions League victories, all since 2011, afford them status as the most successful team in the competition’s history, franked by another three runners-up finishes.

Renard, the sculpted, tanned figurehead – best known for stunning eventual World Cup winners Argentina when leading Saudi Arabia at the 2022 showpiece – has been charged with eradicating the dichotomy.

There’s a particular motivation as well, for even if he guides Les Bleues through their European qualification campaign which begins tomorrow (Friday) against Ireland, he won’t be around for the tournament in Switzerland next year.

Renard is returning to the men’s circuit, Nigeria being the likeliest destination, after the Olympics in July and August. That they’re being staged in Paris compounds the pressure the French are burdened with.

Another subplot is the reasons behind the 55-year-old’s departure. He was miffed at the French federation denying him permission to take a sabbatical by overseeing Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations during the fallow winter period in the women’s calendar.

“The snipers were aimed at me,” he stated, clearly sensitive to the snub. “I am at the end of my contract on August 31 and, to be clear, I announced to the FFF that I will not continue.”

That outburst stirred his detractors, adamant he’s distracted by his next project.

He and his team left their base of the federation’s legendary training centre of Clairefontaine yesterday for Metz but not before Kadidiatou Diani defended her boss.

Noting that progress was exemplified by them reaching the Nations League final in February, when they lost 2-0 to hosts and World Cup holders Spain, the Lyon denied another bout of infighting that has plagued the nation’s football history was pervading the camp.

“When he arrived, we already knew that he and his staff were there for a short period, but he put things in place and he did things really well,” said the silver boot winner from the last World Cup.

“We will continue to work together for the last competition, the Olympic Games.” On the Ivory Coast kerfuffle, Diani pleaded the fifth: “It can look strange on the outside, but personally, I didn’t pay attention to it.

“Those were his choices, he asked for it, and he (when it was rejected) he accepted it.

“When he’s with us, he’s 100% with us, that’s the most important thing, and that’s what I remember.”