The star striker of the France team Marie-Antoinette Katoto, seriously injured in a knee in 2022, is forfeited for the World Cup this summer, Agence France-Presse learned on Tuesday from sources close to the player and the Bleues. The 24-year-old French player underwent medicals on Tuesday morning in Clairefontaine and the medical staff of Les Bleues and PSG deemed that she was “not fit” to participate in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (July 20 – August 20).
She had already been absent from the World Cup in 2019 in France, not called up at the time by Corinne Deacon. His “recovery is on the right track, but it’s too fair for a big competition”, explained to AFP the entourage of “MAK”, who has been dragging a serious injury since July 2022 and has still not tasted again. the competition. Victim during the Euro of a rupture of a ligament in his right knee and a crack in the meniscus, Katoto is in the rehabilitation phase. She has resumed running and has been retouching the ball since the end of April.
“We will make sure to respect the medical aspect, the athletic aspect so as not to go against the physical integrity of this player who still has a bright future ahead of her. But, if we can have him with us, I will be the first to be delighted, “explained to AFP the new coach of the Blue, Hervé Renard, on May 21. Contacted by AFP, his club, Paris Saint-Germain, did not wish to comment on the information.
For the Bleues, this package is in addition to that already recorded by Delphine Cascarino, striker for Olympique Lyonnais, also injured in the knee. The recovery times of her teammate Griedge Mbock, central defender, make her presence very uncertain in Australia. On the other hand, optimism is in order for striker Kadidiatou Diani, injured at the end of March with PSG but expected among the globalists. Hervé Renard’s list is to be announced on June 6 at 4 p.m.
