TheNewsGuru

Tag: France

  • Messi scores as PSG clinch French Ligue 1 title

    Messi scores as PSG clinch French Ligue 1 title

    Lionel Messi scored a fine goal as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) sealed the Ligue 1 title in spite of being pegged back late on by Lens in a 1-1 draw.

    PSG went into the game at the Parc des Princes knowing a point would be enough to claim a record-tying 10th Ligue 1 title.

    They were then hoping to get the job done in style on home turf.

    Lens had Kevin Danso sent off in the 57th minute, and 11 minutes later Messi effectively clinched the title with a magnificent long-range goal.

    Yet the title-winning moment was spoiled somewhat.

    Slack PSG defending allowed Corentin Jean to steal in at the far post and ensure the hosts secured the trophy with a damp squib rather than a bang.

    Mauricio Pochettino’s men were booed off by the home fans at half-time.

    Seko Fofana and Danso spurned early chances for Lens before Achraf Hakimi and Neymar went close for PSG.

    PSG were improved after the break.

    Kylian Mbappe was denied by Jean-Louis Leca’s save and Christopher Maurice Wooh’s goal-line clearance from the rebound following Marco Verratti’s quickly-taken free-kick.

    Danso paid the price for a rash challenge on Neymar on the edge of the penalty area as he received a second yellow card.

    Although Leca turned Messi’s subsequent free-kick behind, he could do nothing to prevent the Argentina international’s thunderbolt from finding the net 10 minutes later.

    It was a trademark Messi finish, his 25-yard shot lacking in perfect placement but possessing both the bend and velocity to leave Leca with no chance.

    Yet the frustration that defined much of the evening returned in the 88th minute.

    That was when Jean slid in to turn home Deiver Machado’s ball across the face of goal and dampen the celebrations.

  • Time for Paul Pogba to leave Man Utd – Petit

    Time for Paul Pogba to leave Man Utd – Petit

    Former France international Emmanuel Petit says Paul Pogba needs to leave Manchester United.

    United are attempting to convince Pogba to sign a new deal and stay as his current contract enters it’s final two months.

    But Petit told the Mirror: “Paul Pogba should not stay at Manchester United after the summer. It’s time for him to leave the club.

    “His body language says it all that he is not happy there. He is not the only one by the way, there are so many frustrated players in the club!

    “If you ask the whole locker room, I’m sure half of them (the players) would actually like to leave … there are no positive vibes. They have problems on and off the field. These are two different worlds.”

  • Why I perform better for France than Man Utd – Pogba

    Why I perform better for France than Man Utd – Pogba

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has stated his reasons why he performs better while playing for France.

    The 29-year-old insists stability has been the key.

    He told Le Figaro: “It’s simple with France, I play and I play in my position – I know my role and I feel the confidence of the coach and the players,’ he said.

    “It’s normal to feel a difference at Manchester United because it’s hard to be consistent when you often have a change to your position, or the team system, or your partners.

    “I get along very well with [France boss Didier Deschamps], he gave me a role that I know, but at Manchester United do I really have a role? I ask the question but I don’t have an answer.”

  • Ukraine crisis: Worst is yet to come – French president says after call with Putin

    Ukraine crisis: Worst is yet to come – French president says after call with Putin

    French president Emmanuel Macron has been said to believe the worst is yet to come as far as the crisis in Ukraine is concerned.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is coming after Macron had a very long phone call with Russian president, Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

    The Russian leader made clear his “great determination” to continue the military onslaught with the objective of “taking control” of the whole country, the French president’s office said.

    “We expect that the worst is yet to come. Putin said the operations were based on the refusal of Ukrainians to put in place the Minsk agreements,” a statement by the office reads.

    Russian forces have continued to bombard Ukrainian cities, seizing the southern port of Kherson and encircling Mariupol on the Azov Sea.

    More video evidence has emerged of massive destruction in residential areas.

    Macron, meanwhile, took to his official Twitter handle to say: “I spoke this morning with President Putin to cease his attacks on Ukraine. At this point, he refuses.

    “Maintaining the dialogue to avoid human tragedies is absolutely necessary. I will continue my efforts and contacts. We must avoid the worst.

    “Dialogue to protect populations, to obtain gestures that will avoid human tragedies, to put an end to this war: this is the meaning of my commitment alongside President Zelensky and the international community.

    “My determination is and will remain total”.

  • D’Tigress drawn to face France, hosts at FIBA Women’s World Cup

    D’Tigress drawn to face France, hosts at FIBA Women’s World Cup

    Nigeria’s senior national women basketball team, D’Tigress, have been drawn in Group B of the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Australia.

    The Nigerian side were drawn to face France, Australia, Canada, Japan and Serbia at the competition which is in its 19th edition.

    The World Cup is scheduled to hold in Sydney, Australia from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1.

    At the draw held on Thursday in Sydney, the 12 qualified teams were drawn into the two groups of A and B.

    D’Tigress, who are reigning African champions, have a tough schedule in Group B, where they will again face France whom they stunned during the qualifiers last month.

    They are also likely to have their hands full with hosts Australia, as well as Canada.

    Group A is made up of China, Belgium, South Korea, U.S., Bosnia Herzegovina and a final qualifier which is yet to be determined.

    NAN reports that the D’Tigress pulled a major upset in Belgrade during the qualifiers by beating France before dispatching Mali to qualify for the World Cup in grand style.

  • French football chief suggests Russia be thrown out of FIFA World Cup

    French football chief suggests Russia be thrown out of FIFA World Cup

    French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët has become the first major football official to suggest Russia should be thrown out of the men’s World Cup following the invasion of Ukraine.

    Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have all refused to play Russia next month in the play-offs for the tournament in Qatar in November and December.

    “That is my first impulse,” Le Graët said on Sunday when asked if Russia should be banned from the tournament.

    “The world of sports, and football in particular, cannot remain neutral. I will certainly not object to Russia’s exclusion.”

    World football body FIFA must make the decision and Le Graët, 80, is on the governing FIFA Council.

    Russia hosted the last men’s FIFA World Cup in 2018.

  • French military bases in Mali to close for 6 months, says Macron

    French military bases in Mali to close for 6 months, says Macron

    France will conduct closures of its military bases in Mali for an expected period of four to six months, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

    Earlier in the day, Paris said that Canada, France, and its allies in the European mission Takuba decided to begin coordinated withdrawal of troops from Mali due to disagreements.

    The withdrawal agreements are due with the African nation’s transitional authorities, who seized power in a coup.

    “We have started closing military bases in the north, so we will gradually close the bases that we have in Mali during the exercises which will take from four to six months,’’ Macron said at a press conference.

    France will continue to ensure the security of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the UN mission on the ground over the period in question.

    He noted that recalling the European forces would be deployed to Niger after the withdrawal from Mali.

    France launched the counterterrorism mission Barkhane in 2014 in the Sahel region.

    The mission involved forces of the G5 Sahel countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania.

    In summer 2021, Macron said that Operation Barkhane would be transformed into an international counterterrorist alliance.

    France began reducing its presence in Mali in December 2021 after the May coup.

  • Mali accuse France of splitting country, spying

    Mali accuse France of splitting country, spying

    Mali has accused France’s military of deliberately dividing the West African country and of committing espionage during its fight against Islamist militants.

    Choguel Maiga, appointed interim Prime Minister following a coup in 2021, did not provide evidence for his claims, made during a meeting with global diplomats.

    French officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

    Maiga’s remarks would further fray tensions between Mali and its former colonial ruler France, whose 9-year counter-insurgency strategy in the Sahel region was unraveling as popular opposition to its military presence grows.

    Maiga said the arrival of French troops in 2013 divided the country and allowed jihadists linked to al Qaeda to regroup and continue carrying out attacks.

    “The intervention turned into a de-facto partition of Mali, which contributed to the sanctuarisation of our territories for the terrorists who had time to take refuge and reorganise themselves in order to come back in force.’’

    Without providing evidence, Maiga also alleged that France had directed a United Nations peacekeeping plane to spy on the construction of Malian army bases on its behalf.

    The U.N. mission declined to comment.

    Mali on Monday expelled a journalist from the French magazine Jeune Afrique less than 24 hours after his arrival. Authorities said he had not obtained the appropriate accreditations.

    Tensions between Europe and Mali are nearing boiling point. Paris has suspended air travel and the European Union has sanctioned its leaders for delaying planned elections.

    Mali expelled the French ambassador last week and demanded Danish troops from a European Special Forces mission leave the country. KBN2K62X1

    The spat has isolated the military-led government in Mali, which was also under sanctions from West African nations after it said it would not hold elections until Dec. 2025 nearly four years later than planned.

    France maintains a significant military force in Mali’s desert north as part of a mission to combat violence by Islamist militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, but is drawing down troops.

    Meanwhile Russian military contractors and trainers have begun arriving in Mali at the bequest of officials, and have been well received by some.

  • Macron speaks with President Biden ahead of trip to Moscow

    Macron speaks with President Biden ahead of trip to Moscow

    French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday ahead of a trip to Moscow.

    The White House disclosed this in a statement.

    “The leaders discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders,.

    “And (they) affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the White House said.

    A statement from the Élysée Palace said the two leaders talked for about 40 minutes.

    Macron travels to Moscow on Monday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    They had already spoken by telephone three times in the past few days.

    France currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU).

    Before his visit to the Kremlin, Macron coordinated his stance with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is making his inaugural visit to Washington to see Biden on Monday.

    The Ukraine conflict will also play an important role in the Biden-Scholz meeting.

    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday about ongoing efforts by NATO allies, EU partners, G7 members, and other partners “to address Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders.

    “And the importance of continuing to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the State Department said.

  • French fashion designer Thierry Mugler dies aged 73

    French fashion designer Thierry Mugler dies aged 73

    French fashion designer, Thierry Mugler, has died at the age of 73, a statement posted on his Facebook page said.

    “We are devastated to announce the passing of Mr Manfred Thierry Mugler on Sunday, Jan. 23.

    “May his soul rest in peace,’’ the statement read.

    The French news agency AFP also reported his death, citing Mugler’s agent Jean-Baptiste Rougeot.

    His death was unexpected as no cause of death was reported.

    Mugler was due to announce new collaborations next week.

    Born in Strasbourg in December 1948, Mugler was among the most well-known French fashion designers.

    He founded his eponymous brand in the 1970s and had a strong influence on fashion, especially in the 1980s.

    Mugler also worked as a director, writer and designer, including for Cirque du Soleil.

    Stars like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and David Bowie were among the celebrities that wore his clothes.

    Mugler also had success with perfumes.