France national under-21 football team

Last updated

France Under-21
France national under-21 football team.png
Nickname(s) Les Bleuets (The Little Blues)
Les Espoirs (The Hopes)
Association French Football Federation
Head coach Thierry Henry
Captain Warren Zaïre-Emery
Most caps Mickaël Landreau (46)
Top scorer Odsonne Édouard (17)
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First colours
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Second colours
First international
Flag of France.svg France 7–1 England  Flag of England.svg
(Le Havre, France; 22 May 1952)
Biggest win
Flag of France.svg France 9–0 Cyprus  Flag of Cyprus.svg
(Grenoble, France; 17 October 2023)
Biggest defeat
Flag of England.svg  England 6–0 France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg
(Sheffield, England; 28 February 1984)
Records for competitive
matches only.
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances11 (first in 1982 )
Best resultWinners (1988)

The France national under-21 football team (French : Equipe de France Espoirs), known in France as Les Espoirs (French pronunciation: [ɛs.pwaʁ] , The Hopes), is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, held every two years.

Contents

Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, under-21 football teams in Europe were formed. The team is exclusively for football players that are age 21 or under at the start of the two-year campaign of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, meaning a player can represent the national team until the age of 23.

France has won the Under-21 Championship once, in 1988. Notable players on the team that went on to play for the senior national team include Laurent Blanc, Eric Cantona, Franck Sauzée, and Jocelyn Angloma, among others. [1] Blanc was named the tournament's Golden Player. [2] The team's best finish since was in 2002 when the team finished runners-up to the Czech Republic in Switzerland.

The France under-21 team does not have a permanent home. The team plays in stadiums located all around France, particularly grounds of Ligue 2 clubs. Because of the smaller demand compared to the senior national team, smaller facilities are used. Recently, the under-21 team has established the Stade Auguste-Delaune II, home of Stade Reims, as a home residence having played numerous matches there over the past two seasons.

History

Though, under-21 teams weren't formed until 1976, Les Espoirs, a youth national team in France, had existed since 1950 playing its first match on 22 May 1952 defeating England 7–1 at the Stade Jules Deschaseaux in Le Havre. The team's next match was two years later suffering a 3–1 defeat to Italy in Vicenza. For the rest of the decade, the youth team played seven more matches, which included a 1–1 draw with Hungary in Budapest and a 2–0 loss to England in Sunderland in 1959. In the 1960s, Espoirs continued to play matches against fellow national youth sides. However, on 18 December 1968, the team contested a match against Algeria senior team in Algiers recording an impressive 5–2 victory. Four days later, the team draw 1–1 with the under-23 team of Algeria in Oran. On 12 February 1969, the Espoirs played the Hungary senior team at the Stade Gerland in Lyon. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.

Team image

Media coverage

France's under-21 football friendlies and qualifying matches are broadcast by Direct 8.

Results and fixtures

Legend

  Win  Draw  Lose  Fixture

2023

25 MarchFriendly England  Flag of England.svg4–0Flag of France.svg  France Leicester, England
Report Stadium: King Power Stadium
Referee: Joey Kooij (Netherlands)
28 MarchFriendly France  Flag of France.svg0–0Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Vannes, France
Report Stadium: Stade de la Rabine
16 JuneFriendly France  Flag of France.svg1–0Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Grenoble, France
Report Stadium: Stade des Alpes
22 June U21 Euro 2023 GS France  Flag of France.svg2–1Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Cluj-Napoca, Romania
21:45 EEST (UTC+3) Report Stadium: Cluj Arena
Attendance: 11,286
Referee: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands)
25 June U21 Euro 2023 GS Norway  Flag of Norway.svg0–1Flag of France.svg  France Cluj-Napoca, Romania
21:45 EEST (UTC+3) Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Attendance: 1,507
Referee: Donatas Rumšas (Lithuania)
28 June U21 Euro 2023 GS Switzerland  Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg1–4Flag of France.svg  France Cluj-Napoca, Romania
21:45 EEST (UTC+3)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Attendance: 1,652
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)
2 July U21 Euro 2023 QF France  Flag of France.svg1–3Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Cluj-Napoca, Romania
22:00 EEST (UTC+3)
Report
Stadium: Cluj Arena
Attendance: 6,281
Referee: João Pinheiro (Portugal)
7 SeptemberFriendly France  Flag of France.svg4–1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Nancy, France
Report
Stadium: Stade Marcel Picot
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Jonathan Lardot (Belgium)
20 NovemberFriendly France  Flag of France.svg0–3Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Le Havre, France
Report
Stadium: Stade Océane
Referee: Andrei Florin Chivulete (Romania)

2024

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 21 August 2023
PositionNameNationality
Manager Thierry Henry Flag of France.svg  French
Assistant manager Gérald Baticle Flag of France.svg  French
Assistant manager Gaël Clichy Flag of France.svg  French
Goalkeeping coach Patrick L'Hostis Flag of France.svg  French
Doctor Marc Chasselat Flag of France.svg  French
Physiotherapist Florian Simon Flag of France.svg  French

Players

Current squad

For the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, including the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible.

The following 23 players were called up for 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Austria and for a friendly macth against South Korea on 17 and 20 November 2023, respectively. [3]

Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped by the senior team.

Caps and goals as of 17 November 2023, after the team's match against Flag of Austria.svg  Austria.

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
1 GK Guillaume Restes (2005-03-11) 11 March 2005 (age 18)50 Flag of France.svg Toulouse
1 GK Robin Risser (2004-12-02) 2 December 2004 (age 19)00 Flag of France.svg Dijon
1 GK Obed Nkambadio (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 20)00 Flag of France.svg Paris FC

2 DF Castello Lukeba (vice-captain) (2002-12-17) 17 December 2002 (age 21)150 Flag of Germany.svg RB Leipzig
2 DF Malo Gusto (2003-05-19) 19 May 2003 (age 20)91 Flag of England.svg Chelsea
2 DF Quentin Merlin (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 21)90 Flag of France.svg Marseille
2 DF Chrislain Matsima (2002-05-15) 15 May 2002 (age 21)31 Flag of France.svg Monaco
2 DF Leny Yoro (2005-11-13) 13 November 2005 (age 18)40 Flag of France.svg Lille
2 DF Kiliann Sildillia (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 21)30 Flag of Germany.svg SC Freiburg
2 DF Jeanuël Belocian (2005-02-17) 17 February 2005 (age 18)10 Flag of France.svg Rennes
2 DF Isaak Touré (2003-03-28) 28 March 2003 (age 20)00 Flag of France.svg Lorient

3 MF Johann Lepenant (2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 (age 21)61 Flag of France.svg Lyon
3 MF Maghnes Akliouche (2002-02-25) 25 February 2002 (age 21)51 Flag of France.svg Monaco
3 MF Lesley Ugochukwu (2004-03-26) 26 March 2004 (age 19)50 Flag of England.svg Chelsea
3 MF Lucas Gourna-Douath (2003-08-05) 5 August 2003 (age 20)20 Flag of Austria.svg Red Bull Salzburg
2 DF Ismaël Doukouré (2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 20)20 Flag of France.svg Strasbourg
3 MF Enzo Millot (2002-07-17) 17 July 2002 (age 21)00 Flag of Germany.svg VfB Stuttgart

4 FW Arnaud Kalimuendo (2002-01-20) 20 January 2002 (age 22)278 Flag of France.svg Rennes
4 FW Rayan Cherki (2003-08-17) 17 August 2003 (age 20)1911 Flag of France.svg Lyon
4 FW Bradley Barcola (2002-09-02) 2 September 2002 (age 21)124 Flag of France.svg Paris Saint-Germain
4 FW Elye Wahi (2003-01-02) 2 January 2003 (age 21)123 Flag of France.svg Lens
4 FW Georginio Rutter (2002-04-20) 20 April 2002 (age 21)40 Flag of England.svg Leeds United
4 FW Mathys Tel (2005-04-27) 27 April 2005 (age 18)32 Flag of Germany.svg Bayern Munich

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the France under-21 squad and remain eligible:

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GK Lucas Lavallée (2003-02-18) 18 February 2003 (age 20)00 Flag of France.svg Dunkerque v. Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia, 11 September 2023
GK Thimothée Lo-Tutala (2003-02-13) 13 February 2003 (age 20)00 Flag of England.svg Hull City v. Flag of Norway.svg  Norway, 19 November 2022

DF Soungoutou Magassa (2003-10-08) 8 October 2003 (age 20)10 Flag of France.svg Monaco v. Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus, 17 October 2023
DF Maxime Estève (2002-05-26) 26 May 2002 (age 21)10 Flag of England.svg Burnley v. Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus, 17 October 2023
DF Bradley Locko (2002-05-06) 6 May 2002 (age 21)00 Flag of France.svg Brest v. Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus, 17 October 2023
DF Thierno Baldé (2002-06-10) 10 June 2002 (age 21)10 Flag of France.svg Troyes v. Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia, 11 September 2023
DF Tanguy Nianzou (2002-06-07) 7 June 2002 (age 21)11 Flag of Spain.svg Sevilla v. Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark, 7 September 2023 INJ
DF Yoan Koré (2004-11-16) 16 November 2004 (age 19)00 Flag of France.svg Paris FC v. Flag of Spain.svg  Spain, 28 March 2023

MF Warren Zaïre-Emery (captain) (2006-03-08) 8 March 2006 (age 17)40 Flag of France.svg Paris Saint-Germain v. Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus, 17 October 2023SEN
MF Habib Diarra (2004-01-03) 3 January 2004 (age 20)30 Flag of France.svg Strasbourg v. Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus, 17 October 2023
MF Lucien Agoumé (2002-02-09) 9 February 2002 (age 21)20 Flag of Spain.svg Sevilla v. Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia, 11 September 2023
MF Andy Diouf (2003-05-17) 17 May 2003 (age 20)10 Flag of France.svg Lens v. Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia, 11 September 2023
MF Eduardo Camavinga (2002-11-10) 10 November 2002 (age 21)132 Flag of Spain.svg Real Madrid v. Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine, 9 June 2022

FW Désiré Doué (2005-06-03) 3 June 2005 (age 18)10 Flag of France.svg Rennes v. Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus, 17 October 2023
FW Sékou Mara (2002-07-30) 30 July 2002 (age 21)41 Flag of England.svg Southampton v. Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia, 11 September 2023
FW Wilson Odobert (2004-11-28) 28 November 2004 (age 19)10 Flag of England.svg Burnley v. Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia, 11 September 2023
FW Matthis Abline (2003-03-28) 28 March 2003 (age 20)41 Flag of France.svg Nantes v. Flag of Spain.svg  Spain, 28 March 2023
FW Mohamed-Ali Cho (2004-01-19) 19 January 2004 (age 20)70 Flag of France.svg Nice v. Flag of Germany.svg  Germany, 23 September 2022 INJ
FW Hugo Ekitike (2002-06-20) 20 June 2002 (age 21)00 Flag of France.svg Paris Saint-Germain v. Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia, 16 November 2021
FW Janis Antiste (2002-08-18) 18 August 2002 (age 21)10 Flag of Italy.svg Reggiana v. Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia, 12 October 2021
FW Nathanaël Mbuku (2002-03-16) 16 March 2002 (age 21)21 Flag of France.svg Saint-Étienne v. Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands, 6 September 2021
FW Isaac Lihadji (2002-04-10) 10 April 2002 (age 21)21 Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Duhail v. Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland, 16 November 2020
Notes

Previous squads

Honours

Champions (1): 1988
Runners-up (1): 2002
Champions (12): 1977, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015
Finalists (14): 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016

Competitive record

UEFA U-23 Championship

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

YearResultPldWD*LGFGA
1978 Did not qualify401346
1980 421132
1982 Quarter-finals631298
1984 Quarter-finals6312119
1986 Quarter-finals82331313
1988 Champions126512113
1990 Did not qualify6321117
1992 832375
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg 1994 Fourth place141022248
Flag of Spain.svg 1996 Third place14842305
Flag of Romania.svg 1998 Did not qualify8431138
Flag of Slovakia.svg 2000 8622196
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 2002 Runners-up151230277
Flag of Germany.svg 2004 Did not qualify10811207
Flag of Portugal.svg 2006 Semi-finals1410222410
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2007 Did not qualify421163
Flag of Sweden.svg 2009 10532177
Flag of Denmark.svg 2011 8431126
Flag of Israel.svg 2013 10802237
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg 2015 108113111
Flag of Poland.svg 2017 10622178
Flag of Italy.svg 2019 Semi-finals1411212811
Flag of Hungary.svg Flag of Slovenia.svg 2021 Quarter-finals1411033713
Flag of Georgia.svg Flag of Romania.svg 2023 Quarter-finals1411213910
Total1 title2231374640414180
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
**Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won. Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

See also

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References

  1. "1988: France sweep to final glory". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  2. "1988: Laurent Blanc". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  3. "Fédération Française de Football" (in French).