Former Women’s Super League player Kenza Dali has expressed her disappointment after being left out of the France squad for Euro 2025.
The 33-year-old, who has 76 caps, was one of several big names who were left out by head coach Laurent Bonadei for this summer’s tournament.
Dali joined National Women’s Soccer League side San Diego Wave in January from Aston Villa.
The midfielder also played for Everton and West Ham during her five-and-a-half-years in England.
She could have played against some of her former WSL rivals if she had been called up by France. Les Bleus are in the same group as England, Netherlands, and Wales at Euro 2025.
Kenza Dali speaks out on Euro 2025 omission
Kenza Dali has promised to speak out about her Euro 2025 omission after the tournament, insisting there are a ‘lot of lies’.
The 33-year-old told the Guardian: “I will tell my side of the story after the Euros, for only one reason. It’s because I have too much respect for my teammates to put the spotlight on a decision that is difficult to accept because I think there are a lot of lies,” she says.
“I hope they do well. There is too much respect for the jersey to put out my side of the story now.
“I know it’s going to be everywhere and they’re preparing for the Euros and I don’t want to disturb that. But it’s difficult for me because I’ve been playing maybe some of my best football.
“It’s really difficult to digest. There are a lot of lies in the story that’s been told but I’ll tell my side after the Euros.”
16 ans de passion, 94 buts, une leader incontestée mérite beaucoup mieux qu’un simple appel de quelques minutes à quelques semaines d’une compétition 🤥
Tu seras toujours la 🐐 https://t.co/JXThw7GUe5— Kenza DALI (@KenzaDali) May 23, 2025
It’s unsure as to what Dali is referring to. However, she did speak out on social media last month after Eugenie Le Sommer found out that she had been omitted.
Dali tweeted: “16 years of passion, 94 goals, an undisputed leader deserves much better than a simple call of a few minutes a few weeks before a competition.”
France squad for Euro 2025
Kenza Dali is not the only big name who has been left out of the France squad for Euro 2025.
Captain Wendie Renard and all-time leading goalscorer Eugenie Le Sommer have also been left out of the 23-player squad.
“These are tough choices,” head coach Laurent Bonadei said. “They are difficult to make and difficult to announce to the players. It’s a decision that’s hard to hear, hard to understand, and almost impossible for them to accept because they’re legendary players for the French team.
“You’d think, given the timing, that this is crazy but it’s not. As Einstein said: ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.’ I want different results for this team so I have gone with a different selection.”
Goalkeepers: Justine Lerond (Montpellier), Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (Juventus Turin), Constance Picaud (Fleury)
Defenders: Selma Bacha (Lyon), Lou Bogaert (Paris FC), Elisa De Almeida (Paris SG), Maelle Lakrar (Real Madrid), Griedge Mbock (Paris SG), Melween N’Dongala (Paris FC), Thiniba Samoura (Paris SG), Alice Sombath (Lyon)
Midfielders: Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea), Grace Geyoro (Paris SG), Oriane Jean-Francois (Chelsea), Sakina Karchaoui (Paris SG), Amel Majri (Lyon), Sandi Toletti (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Delphine Cascarino (San Diego), Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon), Kelly Gago (Everton), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Lyon), Melvine Malard (Manchester United), Clara Mateo (Paris FC)
