Bronze & Renard, defenders with their eyes on a prize

The contribution are plain to see. Attackers have always been lucky when it comes to awarding a pretension of FIFA Women’s Player of a Year. And while German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer might have valid a difference to a order in 2013, a defender is nonetheless to collect adult a prestigious particular prize.

However, with Wendie Renard and Lucy Bronze both named on a shortlist for The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2017, maybe that could all be about to change. FIFA.com examines a box for a defence.

“All in all, we had a flattering good season!” Renard told FIFA.com. “I’ve had improved years, though we consider that we achieved consistently. Winning 3 pieces of silverware gets we noticed. I’m anxious to be on a list, and even some-more so given it was selected by football experts,” she continued.

Renard’s year in figures:
– A fourth UEFA Women’s Champions League
– An eleventh French title
– A seventh French Cup
– One SheBelievesCup with a French inhabitant team

@WRenard, D.Marozsán et la nouvelle lyonnaise @LucyBronze en impetus flow “The Best FIFA Football Awards”
Votez https://t.co/ne14fI4WjB

— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) August 22, 2017

“Any game, any training session, we wish to play during my comprehensive best,” pronounced Bronze. “I pushed myself tough for a EURO and I’m happy in a clarity that we know there’s not many some-more we could have given. As a team, nonetheless we fell short, we unequivocally did try a best. It’s adult to other people to decider either we played good or not; all we can contend is that we didn’t come divided with any large regrets since we know we worked my hardest in any singular notation we played.”

Those EURO 2017 finals gave a event for a dual players to once some-more uncover their class, on a behind of a bustling deteriorate with their bar sides. The enterprising England defender extended her repute as one of a best full-backs in universe football. Equally during palliate in a aggressive third as when called on to defend, Bronze played a pivotal purpose her country’s impetus to a semi-finals.

Meanwhile, a soaring Renard valid again only how indispensible she has turn during a heart of a French defence. Her deficiency by cessation during a quarter-final theatre valid crucial, as France were knocked out of a contest by – we guessed it – Lucy Bronze’s England.

Bronze’s year in figures:
– One FA Cup
– One Champions League semi-final
– One EURO 2017 semi-final
– One assignment in a EURO 2017 group of a tournament

Although still general rivals, these dual defensive stars are now team-mates during bar level. As a 2016/17 deteriorate came to a close, Lucy Bronze left Manchester City to join Olympique Lyonnais, where Wendie Renard has been bar captain for a final 4 seasons. But before they try to explain a third unbroken three-way for a club, Bronze and Renard have a opposite aim in their sights.

Great to be recognised
Well finished to all listed
Especially @PernilleMHarder @Jackie_10_ ,both also estimable of actor of a contest pic.twitter.com/GHi4OtXOTJ

— Lucy Bronze (@LucyBronze) August 7, 2017

“It was a unequivocally good feeling to see my name on that list, generally when we see a names you’re alongside. It’s something special to be oral about as one of a tip players in a universe and I’m unequivocally unequivocally beholden to have been nominated.”

It is a view common by Renard. “I am unequivocally unapproachable to be named among a best players in a world. It’s a outcome of many years of tough work, a few conspicuous seasons with Olympique Lyonnais and also some good matches with a French team. It goes to uncover that all a tough work has not left unnoticed. It’s even some-more satisfying, as we frequency see defenders in this arrange of list,” she forked out.

A discerning peek during a list of prior winners – including Mia Hamm, Birgit Prinz, Marta, Abby Wambach, Nadine Kessler, Homare Sawa and Carli Lloyd – suggests that a esteem is all though exclusively indifferent for forwards and aggressive midfielders. Is that a source of frustration? “Silky skills, finishes and fantastic goals get some-more courtesy than a rude tasks and a secret work – that’s only how it is,” explained Renard. “However, behind any good goal, there might be a cross, and before that another pass, and before that a tackle. Every position, any integrate in a chain, is essential.”

Bronze takes adult a argument. “People will tend to watch some-more live matches, generally when it comes to a large games, in men’s football, since in a women’s diversion they only tend to collect adult brief highlights – a many fantastic aggressive moments basically,” she explained. “You apparently don’t get a full appreciation of defenders examination games that way.

“I’ve seen that myself during a World Cup, when we got a name for myself after scoring a integrate of goals – that itself is unequivocally surprising for me. I’m still famous for that to an border a integrate of years after and there’s no doubt that doing something important during a EURO or World Cup – scoring goals or saving penalties in Nadine Angerer’s box – is what mostly gets we beheld as a women’s player.”

What they consider of any other:
- Wendie on Lucy: “She’s a good player. Whether for Manchester City or for England, her performances have been impressive. It’s a good signing for OL. It’s players like Lucy who are going to change a approach people demeanour during defenders.”

– Lucy on Wendie: “I consider she is a world’s best centre-half. She’s been seen in that approach for a while now, and righteously so. It’s indeed humorous being on a same group as her now because, personification opposite her, she gives off a unequivocally stern, critical and focused aura, walking with her shoulders back, looking unequivocally assured – and utterly righteously – in her possess abilities. But entrance to a club, we saw immediately that she has such a opposite approach about her off a pitch. She’s unequivocally funny, down-to-earth, full of smiles and was so welcoming to me when we initial came in. As good as being a good player, she’s a good character.”

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/news/y=2017/m=9/news=bronze-renard-defenders-with-their-eyes-on-the-prize-2907419.html