Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Heavy scrutiny has continued to follow Kylian Mbappe since his long-awaited Real Madrid move over the summer. The 25-year-old French star must learn to play as a central striker because he will not be able to displace Vinicius Junior on the left flank, according to the club’s long-serving former forward Karim Benzema, who made 14 international appearances alongside him for Les Bleus.
Continue reading “Benzema: People ask plenty of under-fire Mbappe but he must adapt, Real isn’t PSG”
Seven years after Real had a €180m bid accepted for the then-Monaco wonderkid, the newly-crowned 15-time Champions League winners have their man. Kylian Mbappe’s dream has been realised, having made history at home with Paris Saint-Germain, and now the France captain will acclimatise to new surroundings and expectations with Los Blancos after Euro 2024 this month. Continue reading “Mbappe’s long-awaited dream realised at long last, as Real confirm multi-year deal”
Argentina found themselves just 10 minutes from glory. Kylian Mbappe scored twice in 97 seconds to equalise. Lionel Messi made it 3-2 in extra-time, yet his club teammate completed his hat-trick from the spot during a frantic finish. Into a penalty shootout they went and Sevilla fullback Gonzalo Montiel had the final say: sending Hugo Lloris the wrong way, finishing a remarkable World Cup Final with a dramatic win over the defending champions last night. Continue reading “Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 on pens): Montiel ends frenzied final in shootout after Mbappe hat-trick”
Theo Hernandez’s early strike and a first international goal for second-half substitute Randal Kolo Muani ensure reigning champions France are back in the World Cup final, where they’ll play Lionel Messi and Argentina on Sunday afternoon. Morocco fought valiantly, but Les Bleus can now become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend their crown as world champions.
Continue reading “WC 2022 – France 2-0 Morocco: Hernandez, Kolo Muani sink historic Africans, into Sunday’s final”
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Four of the last five World Cup winners have gone on to crash out in the group stages at the subsequent tournament, a statistic beginning with France themselves back in 2002. For a 20-minute spell in their Group D opener against Australia, you could be forgiven for thinking history would repeat itself. Now though, they’ll be expecting to build on a display highlighting some strengths while lluminating weaknesses with tougher challenges in the days to come.
Continue reading “France 4-1 Australia: World champions rally from early scare to earn big win in World Cup opener”
World champions France recovered from another deficit, for the second time in four days, to be crowned the 2021 UEFA Nations League champions with a 2-1 win over Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain. Just like their comeback win over Belgium, goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe saw them storm ahead in a frenetic second-half packed with chances for both sides. Continue reading “Spain 1-2 France: Les Bleus seal Nations League title the hard way after nailbiting finish”
In a week where he addressed the Real Madrid rumours and mother Fayza provided an update on her son’s future, Kylian Mbappe produced his best display since May to help propel France into the UEFA Nations League Final, where they play Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain on Sunday.
Continue reading “Belgium 2-3 France: Benzema, Mbappe key as Les Bleus earn second-half comeback win”
Per today’s reports, Tottenham are leading the race to sign Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram – currently in Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2020 squad with France. The versatile 23-year-old, who has two successful Bundesliga seasons under his belt, has admirers aplenty. Continue reading “Report: Tottenham in advanced talks with Gladbach forward Marcus Thuram”
Six years after his last call-up with politics, allegations of racism and an ongoing court case bubbling beneath the surface, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been named in Didier Deschamps’ 26-man France squad for the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament – which begins in less than a month’s time. He’s expected to lead the line after an excellent season at club level.
Continue reading “Euro 2020: Karim Benzema to make France return after six-year absence”
England’s top-flight is among Europe’s top divisions set to resume next month, but France coach Didier Deschamps insists they are only doing so due to financial reasons – while sharing his worries over player fitness and heightened injury risk. Continue reading “France boss Deschamps fears Europe’s top leagues prioritising money over safety”
Didier Deschamps has announced his latest 23-man squad for France’s upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers, but here’s an extended look at three players left out who deserved to be selected…
Continue reading “3 France players who deserved national team call-ups”
It was a frustrating evening for World champions France, as they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands at De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam. Continue reading “UEFA Nations League – Netherlands 2-0 France: 5 Talking Points”
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