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Tag: France

  • Why Deschamps wrong for taking off Griezmann – Mourinho

    Why Deschamps wrong for taking off Griezmann – Mourinho

    Jose Mourinho has criticised Didier Deschamps for his substitutions in the loss to Switzerland on Tuesday.

    The reigning World Cup winners were knocked out at the round of 16 stage after blowing a 3-1 lead against the Swiss.

    Deschamps brought off Antoine Griezmann in normal time before France failed to see out the game.

    ‘I believe France had a little bit of fun, which in football I think you must have football after the game, not during the game. They had fun too early,’ Mourinho told talkSPORT.

    ‘They were playing fantastic, the way they changed the result, amazing, Benzema’s first goal was incredible, Pogba’s third goal was top. But then I think they had a little bit of fun.

    ‘I also believe Deschamps made one mistake that I think about many, many times.

    ‘When you’re in a game where there’s a possibility of extra time you have to be very careful with the changes you make.

    ‘When you make a change on minute 89 and you take off one of your best players, Griezmann, who was playing amazingly well and you change Griezmann for Sissoko.

    ‘If this is a points game without extra time that’s okay. But when there’s the possibility of extra time that’s a big game because then you make that change, they equalise in minute 91 or 92, you go to extra time and then you want to shoot yourself because you left Griezmann out of extra time.

    ‘Then in extra time you have the unlucky situation you cannot control of Benzema getting injured or feeling something and you lose your two top attacking players.

    ‘And then during extra time you never felt France could win it because they didn’t have the power to do it.

    ‘I think in this moment that Deschamps knows he made that mistake, which is something that can happen to every one of us, but experience helps us.

    ‘When you have extra time as a possibility still open you don’t take off one of your best players.’

  • Drama as Rabiot’s mum clashes with families of Mbappe and Pogba

    Drama as Rabiot’s mum clashes with families of Mbappe and Pogba

    The mother of Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot has hit out at France teammates Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba.

    Veronique Rabiot was reportedly involved in a heated exchange with the family members of her son’s team-mates in the aftermath of their Euro 2020 defeat by Switzerland.

    RMC says the mother and agent of the Juventus star asked Pogba’s family how he could have lost possession in midfield before the Swiss team countered and found the back of the net.

    Her fury continued after the penalty shootout and she then is said to have asked Mbappe’s father to ‘reframe his son and make him less arrogant’.

    She also reportedly ‘attacked’ members of the press covering the game and took aim at some of their attitudes towards the Paris Saint-Germain forward.

    It is then claimed there was a ‘heated exchange’ between Veronique Rabiot and Mbappe’s mother, Fayza Lamari, as well as his father.

    The families of other French stars were said to be ‘shocked’ by Veronique Rabiot’s outburst and the timing of it, given they had just watched their relatives crash out of the tournament.

  • I’m sorry, I failed – Mbappe

    I’m sorry, I failed – Mbappe

    Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe apologised after blowing his penalty in their Euro 2020 round of 16 shootout defeat to Switzerland.

    Mbappe, who failed to score a goal during the entirety of the tournament, stepped up to take the fifth spot-kick with the underdogs having converted all of theirs, but his strike was parried away by Yann Sommer.

    “Very difficult to turn the page,” he wrote on social media. “The sadness is immense after this elimination, we could not reach our goal.

    “I’m sorry for this penalty. I wanted to help the team but failed.

    “Finding sleep will be difficult but unfortunately it is the ups and downs of this sport that I love so much.

    “I know you fans have been disappointed, but I still want to thank you for your support and for always believing in us.

    “The most important thing will be to get up even stronger for the next upcoming deadlines. Congratulations and good luck to Switzerland.”

  • Mbappe misses penalty to send France out of Euro 2020

    Mbappe misses penalty to send France out of Euro 2020

    Kylian Mbappe missed the crucial kick as Switzerland beat France on penalties in the Euro 2020 last 16 after a classic European Championship game.

    The Swiss had been seconds away from elimination during 90 minutes but go through to face Spain after progressing from a major tournament knockout game for the first time since 1938.

    Haris Seferovic headed the Swiss ahead and they had a penalty saved that could have made it 2-0 before Karim Benzema scored twice and Paul Pogba put France 3-1 up with a screamer.

    Seferovic headed in his second goal of the game for Switzerland and substitute Mario Gavranovic hammered in a last-minute equaliser to send the game to extra time.

    Mbappe missed a couple of big chances for the world champions in extra time and Olivier Giroud had a header saved in the final minute.

    Paris St-Germain forward Mbappe was the only player to fail to score in the shootout, after an excellent Yann Sommer save.

    Switzerland play Spain, who also came through a thriller – 5-3 after extra time against Croatia – in the quarter-final in St Petersburg on Friday.

    This is the biggest shock of Euro 2020 so far, with world champions France having been tipped to win the tournament by 12 of 15 BBC pundits before it started.

  • What Ronaldo and I discussed at end of Euro clash – Benzema

    What Ronaldo and I discussed at end of Euro clash – Benzema

    Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was happy to see former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo last night.

    Benzema caught up with the Juventus star at the end of France’s 2-2 draw with Portugal in their final Euroa 2020 group game.

    Benzema said, “It’s nice to see him again, after the long way we have come up together …

    “We played eight-nine years as the front two at Real Madrid, we scored goals, won trophies.

    “We exchanged, we wished each other good luck for the future in the club and national team and especially to continue to have fun on the field and continue to make a difference.”

  • Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappe informs PSG he wants to leave

    Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappe informs PSG he wants to leave

    France international Kylian Mbappe has told PSG management he wants to leave this summer.

    That’s according to RMC pundit Daniel Riolo.

    Riolo declared this morning: “I know that Mbappé has asked to leave, but it is complicated because first you have to find a club that has the money to pay him, but the novelty is that he really does not want to stay.

    “If he doesn’t leave this summer, he’ll be free next season. And that’s why Doha doesn’t want to hear him speak.

    “If Mbappé expresses that desire to leave, it means that he has to look for a club and then PSG has to move to find him a replacement. But yes, the news is that Mbappé does not want to stay at PSG.”

    Real Madrid are favourites to sign Mbappe, with his PSG contract about to enter it’s final 12 months.

  • I’m not finished, grandpa is not dead – Giroud

    I’m not finished, grandpa is not dead – Giroud

    Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has rejected claims he could retire after Euro 2020.

    The 34-year-old France international has been on the fringes for France so far at the tournament. Having been an unused substitute against Germany, he was brought on as a substitute in the 76th minute against Hungary.

    Giroud, however, stated that he still has the hunger of a 20-year-old.

    Giroud told Le Figaro: “I’m not finished, far from it. Count on me, grandpa is not dead!

    “I’m almost 35 but have the hunger of a 20-year-old guy.”

    Giroud has full faith in himself and believes that his aerial prowess is a useful asset.

    He said: “The France team has a fairly incredible strike force, but I have a card to play because there are no other players with my profile. I am here to respond and bring what I want.

    “I know how to do it with the team. I have the desire and, if the young people want to move me, they will have to be ready too.”

  • Dembele forced to withdraw from France’s Euro 2020 squad

    Dembele forced to withdraw from France’s Euro 2020 squad

    Ousmane Dembele has been forced to withdraw from the France squad with an injury he picked up in the draw against Hungary at the weekend.

    The Barcelona forward had come on as a second-half substitute at the Puskas Arena, with France trailing to Hungary, but he had to be replaced by Thomas Lemar in the 87th minute after feeling discomfort in his knee.

    Les Bleus have now confirmed that after examinations in hospital he will fly back home and will play no further part in Euro 2020.

    Didier Deschamps confirmed it was a tendon issue in his knee and Dembele did not feature at all as the squad trained in Budapest on Sunday evening.

    A statement released from the French camp on Monday morning confirmed he had undergone radiological examinations in Budapest Hospital on Sunday evening and his recovery time means he will miss the rest of the tournament.

  • Euro 2020: Barca player rescues France to deny fans Euro shock

    Euro 2020: Barca player rescues France to deny fans Euro shock

    Antoine Griezmann rescued a point for France and denied Hungary one of the big European Championship shocks in front of a raucous 60,000 crowd in Budapest.

    Attila Fiola fired Hungary into the lead just before the break as he held off the French defence to slot home after a one-two with Roland Sallai.

    The goal was met by one of the loudest celebrations football has heard since March 2020 – or even before then – as the Puskas Arena went wild.

    Fiola banged a pitchside reporter’s table and knocked items off before he and his team-mates embraced some of the fans in the front row.

    World champions France, tipped by many as the tournament favourites, had dominated the first half, with Kylian Mbappe in lively form again, before that goal.

    Les Bleus were not impressive, although they did come back in the second half.

    First, substitute Ousmane Dembele hit the post – and then his Barcelona team-mate Griezmann equalised.

    Mbappe ran onto Hugo Lloris’ huge kick down the field before laying it off – with the aid of a slight deflection – for Griezmann to slot home from eight yards.

    The atmosphere was electric, but neither side could find a winner.

    There was almost late drama when Presnel Kimpembe appeared to be fouled in the box by Sallai – but France were not given a penalty – and Raphael Varane headed wide with the last touch.

    France, on four points, have probably done enough to reach the last 16 from Group F – although it is not guaranteed yet – and Hungary have kept their qualification hopes alive.

  • I learned my football most at Juve – Pogba

    I learned my football most at Juve – Pogba

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba says his time with Juventus were the most positive of his career.

    The France international says he learned more while with Juve than at anytime in his career.

    He told L’Equipe: “Where did I learn the football profession the most? At Juve. I went there very young. At 18 years old. And there you come to the men. You come, you train, it’s tactics, discipline. Especially discipline. You have to be disciplined because tactically, they are very sharp. When it hits, it hits, everyone really needs to be together.

    “During the video sessions, they tell you: ‘Look, when you make this movement, it shifts here, when you make that call, it creates such a space’. They teach you the football profession.

    “I learned defensively but also offensively. At Juve, I arrived as a defensive midfielder, central and they made me evolve as a more attacking midfielder.”