France lose Katoto to brutal ACL knee injury

France striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto will miss the rest of Euro 2022 after suffering a serious knee injury, dealing a cruel blow to 'Les Bleues'. The 23-year-old scored in the opening 5-1 win against Italy but was forced out of Thursday's 2-1 victory over Belgium after sustaining a right knee problem early in the game.

Speaking after the game, France head coach Corinne Diacre said she believed Katoto's injury to be a sprain; however, tests on Friday showed it was significantly more serious. Katoto has scored 26 goals in 32 internationals, and her form for club side Paris Saint-Germain marked her out as the team's most obvious match-winner.

She has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, pointing to a lengthy spell out of action for club and country. A national team statement on the French Football Federation (FFF) website said: "Injured in the right knee, the striker of 'Les Bleues' will not take part in the rest of Euro 2022 in England and will leave the group.

"Examinations carried out today confirm a sprained right knee with damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. She is made available to her club. The French women's team and the FFF wish her a good recovery."

 

July 15, 2022

Diacre left France's record scorer Eugenie Le Sommer out of her squad for the finals, which may come back to haunt the coach. Already assured of a place in the quarter-finals, France conclude their group campaign against Iceland in Rotherham on Monday.