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The original was posted on /r/soccer by /u/Sparky-moon on 2026-01-20 04:56:06+00:00.
Original Title: [Le Parisien] Hervé Renard on Brahim Diaz’s panenka penalty: “You have the right to miss a penalty, but in such a case, I am categorical that I have no sympathy.” “It’s a lack of respect for an entire country and an entire people seeking a success for 50 years.”
Was attempting a Panenka, as Brahim Diaz did, at such a crucial moment in the match, madness?
You’re allowed to miss a penalty, but in cases like this, I’m categorical and I have no sympathy. It’s disrespectful to an entire country and a whole people who have been waiting for success for 50 years. Proportionally speaking, I experienced the same thing at the Arab Cup against Morocco. One of my players, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, completely missed his Panenka. I asked him to accompany me to the press conference afterwards and apologize. If that had happened in the CAN final, I might have lost my temper.
Beyond Morocco, isn’t the other big loser in this final simply soccer itself?
HERVÉ RENARD. The loser is the African continent. These events do not reflect well on the continent, but we do not have the power to rewrite history. It all started with one man’s bad decision, the referee, who disallowed Senegal’s goal by Sarr for a foul by Seck on Hakimi that was far from obvious. He blew his whistle too quickly. It’s easy to say that after the fact, but everything that happened next, the riots, the confusion, stemmed from that. He could have relied on VAR and made a decision based on the evidence at his disposal.
There can always be mistakes…
(He interrupts) Of course. There always have been, and not just in the Africa Cup of Nations. I see them in Ligue 1, in the Champions League… But that’s a fact. Sunday night’s mistake was not without consequences. Far from it. In a way, it reminds me of France-Germany in 1982 with Schumacher not being sent off. This Senegal-Morocco match, with its chaotic ending, will still be remembered in 30 or 40 years’ time, just as the French remember that painful night in Seville.
What feeling prevails in you: anger, incomprehension, or sadness?
Incomprehension. I’m not lecturing anyone. I love this continent. It’s too dear to my heart to criticize it, but what happened, I repeat, is not right.
How do you judge the attitude of Pape Thiaw, who asked his players to leave the field?
If he apologized, it’s because he’s well aware that he made a mistake. Admitting it is half the battle. It’s easy to say, “Would I have done the same thing or not?” I might have acted the same way. In the heat of the moment, we do things without always considering the consequences.
“That Panenka penalty was disrespectful to an entire country.”
Hervé Renard
In contrast, Sadio Mané urged his teammates to get back into the game. Did he emerge stronger from this final?
He never left the field. He didn’t think like a frustrated athlete, but like a leader. In a way, he is the biggest hero of this final and this Africa Cup of Nations. Not only was he tremendous on the field, but also off it. He knew how to make himself heard by each of his teammates. He commands immeasurable respect. In Senegal, he is a god. No other player comes close to him.
What would you like to say to the ball boys who tried to steal Édouard Mendy’s towel?
This is completely irrational. More generally, passion for soccer can lead to excesses and reckless behavior. Emotions cannot be bought. You can be the richest man in the world, but no one can buy what happens with national teams. I put myself in the shoes of all these people. I know what soccer means in Senegal or Morocco. It’s fanaticism. In France, we get behind Les Bleus from the quarterfinals onwards. In Africa, a country comes to a standstill as soon as it enters the Africa Cup of Nations!
Walid Regragui, who has been heavily criticized during this Africa Cup of Nations, has this defeat weakened his position?
That’s football. If there’s one thing we can blame him for yesterday, it’s that he made all his substitutions in the 98th minute and had to play the entire second half of extra time with 10 men after Igamane’s injury. It was too big a risk to take. Being a coach means planning ahead and anticipating. That may have been his only mistake. But it’s hard to justify. Because we’re always replaying the game, it’s fair to wonder what would have happened if it had been 11 against 11. We’ll never know the answer. It’s not disrespectful to have an opinion. I would have said the same thing if it had happened to me.
“The Lions of Teranga deserved their victory.”
Was Senegal the best team in the tournament?
I think so. Without an exceptional Bounou, Senegal’s victory would have been sealed earlier. The Lions of Teranga deserved their victory. I say that in all objectivity. Before this final, I was torn. Half my heart is Moroccan and my wife is Senegalese.
As France’s first opponents in the World Cup, are Mané’s teammates now seen as bogeymen?
The French coaching staff didn’t need Sunday night’s match to know that Senegal is a very dangerous team. What’s more, there is a precedent from the 2002 World Cup (a 1-0 victory for Senegal). Having spent a lot of time in this country, I can tell you that this victory over the world and European champions Les Bleus remains fresh in everyone’s memory and almost overshadows the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations victory. Knowing the quality of Senegal, I expect a very high-level match in June.
The four coaches of the semifinalist teams were African. What does that tell us?
With the exception of Egypt’s Hossam Hassan, we are talking about high-level coaches who received all or part of their training in countries where they know how to do it. France, in this case. This diversity is their strength. Habib Beye or Omar Daf would be capable of coaching Senegal. But it’s a bit of a false debate. A coach has no color or nationality. Either you’re competent or you’re not. I was asked this question at a time when locals weren’t necessarily trusted, and I already had the same answer.