France clash is special moment for Morocco WC coach Pedros

Reynald Pedros, 51, is a former France international midfielder who played alongside Zinedine Zidane in the team that reached the semi-finals at Euro 96. In recent years he has made a name as a coach in the women's game, spending two seasons in charge of Lyon, the club that has dominated in France and Europe over the last decade.

He won back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles in charge of Lyon, with a side containing the likes of Wendie Renard, Eugenie Le Sommer, Selma Bacha and Amel Majri - who will all feature for France in Adelaide on Tuesday. "I know this France team perfectly, which is an advantage," Pedros said after Morocco pulled off one of the great major tournament shocks to qualify from their group at the expense of former champions Germany.

"They are a very strong team with experienced, top-level players." Six members of the France squad in Australia played under Pedros at Lyon, with captain Renard, Le Sommer, Bacha and Majri joined by goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin and midfielder Kenza Dali. "It's going to be a bit of a reunion, so it will be a special moment," said Le Sommer, the 34-year-old striker who is France's all-time top scorer.

"Football is surprising. If you had said to me when he left Lyon that we would meet again in the last 16 of the World Cup, especially with him in charge of Morocco, I would not have believed it. He knows the France team inside out, with the players he coached at Lyon and those he came up against."

Pedros also won consecutive French domestic crowns and a French Cup when in charge of Lyon. Le Sommer added: "He did great things with us, winning titles. It was by no means insignificant."

 

August 4, 2023