Christian Hartmann/Reuters
RENNES, France — Wendie Renard, the tallest player in the World Cup, put her left hand at eye level one night last week.
“One day you are up here,” she said.
Renard then moved her hand downward, much closer to the floor.
“And the next day you are down here,” she said.
The first three matches of the World Cup have been an emotional roller coaster for Renard, the 6-foot-1 central defender who is one of the stars and locker-room leaders of France’s team.
On opening night in Paris, Renard leapt higher than all opposition — twice — to score with headers off corner kicks in France’s resounding 4-0 victory over South Korea.