France national under-21 football team

The French U-21 national football team is a national team of French football player. It is subject to the Fédération Française de Football ( FFF) and represents him on the U-21 level, in friendly matches against the national teams of other national associations, but also at the European Championships of the continental federation UEFA. Be eligible, players who have not yet completed their 21 years and have French nationality. In tournaments, the age at first qualifier is relevant. Line comprising a maximum of 20 -year-old team also participates as French U-20 national football team also regularly participate in the U -20 World Championships. In French teams in this age group are referred to as espoir ( " hope" ).

History

The French U- 21 was established in 1976. This was due to the reorganization and regulation of the UEFA this year, the reduced lowered the age limit from 23 to 21. Prior to 1972 there was already a U -23, in the lie the origins of today's U- 21 team.

In the same year, the first international match was played. A guest was the U- 21 team in Belgium, one of the 1-1 tie parted.

In the first two years, the French could not qualify for the European Championship. After 1978, only the third and final place was achieved in the qualifying round, one two years later scored second place. But even that was not enough for participation. In 1982 it was finally time. However, it failed in the quarter- finals after a 0-0 first leg by a 2:4 defeat in the return match against the then defending champion from the Soviet Union. In the next two tournaments would retire also in the quarterfinal against England only ( first leg: 1:6; leg: 0-1) :;: and then against Spain (1:3 First leg Second leg 1:3). After three years of uninterrupted quarter-finals succeeded in 1988, the biggest success. In the group stage could be pushed ahead of the GDR in the first place with one point. In the quarterfinals, then waited with Italy, the winner of the last tournament. You could send him a total victory of 4:3 home. After the Englishman in the semifinals by an overall victory of 6-4 ( first leg: 4-2; leg: 2-2 ) were adopted by the competition, could prevail against the Greek selection in the final. After the first game ended in a draw 0-0, the second sovereign was won 3-0. In the ranks of Bleuets were at this time future world stars such as Eric Cantona ( received in the course of the tournament a one-year lock), Laurent Blanc and Franck Sauzée. Sauzée it was also the one with a brace should pave the way to victory in the final of the French. With the 3-0 winning goal by Franck Silvestre success was perfect.

The next two tournaments should disappointing. Neither for the European Championship in 1990 for the European Championship in 1992 you could qualify. With France as host for the first time in 1994 played a final in a single country. The French were able to reach the semifinals, where you had to let the later champions Italy with 3:5 on penalties (0-0 ) in preference. In the match for third place, the team failed to 1-2 against Spain. In Spain for Euro 1996 they failed again in the semi-final against Italy. However, you could secure a 1-0 win against Scotland the bronze medal. The European Championships in 1998 and 2000 were held without French participation, since the qualification was not done. Only in 2002 they became aware of it again after the second time after 1988, the final was reached. There they had to concede defeat narrowest of margins 3-1 after penalty (0-0 ). Former coach of the Blue-White - Red was the later A- France coach Raymond Domenech. As already with the title win in 1988, the team failed to qualify for the next European Championship and thus disappoint his fans. In Portugal 2006 semifinalist was played in a previous group stage. Here one could prevail against the hosts Portugal and Germany and Serbia and Montenegro as group winners. In the semifinals, waited the Dutch selection. After a 0-2 half-time, the sheet could be turned over until the final whistle to a 2-2. In the extension then you failed, however, with a 3-2 victory over the coming European champions.

Recent Developments

For the European Championship 2007, the U -21 France failed to qualify.

Since August 2008 Erick Mombaerts oversees the espoir. Previously, he coached already the U-18 of the French. He thus came to the legacy of René Girard. Mombaerts to the juniors for the 2009 European lead to Sweden. France was solved with Wales, Romania, Bosnia - Herzegovina and Malta in the group 10. At the beginning of this qualification saw the French in Romania the largest fellow competitors for the win in this group. Both games against the Eastern Europeans ended in a draw. With each defeat and a victory against Wales, it was suddenly the island footballer who could still calculate chances to win the group itself. At the last match France against Bosnia-Herzegovina won 1-0, but Wales kept against Romania 3-0 the upper hand and banished France thus to second place. As one of the best runners-up spot which attracted Bleuets then still in the play-offs. There they met on 11 and 15 October on the German U-21 team. The first game in Germany the game ended 1-1, so that the French were in a good position before the second leg. In the second comparison, the 0-0 held up in the injury time of the regular 90 minutes, until sealed a hit from the German Benedikt Höwedes the resignation of European Champion of 1988.

Participation in U-21 European Championships

Note: Between 1978 and 1992, the final was a U- 21 Championship not played in a country, but completed by return games in the participating nations.

Participation at U -20 World Championships

At the U- 20 World Cup tournaments initially designated as Junior World Cup the Bleuets took part in 1977 for the first time. But only in 2011 they reached the semi-finals here, and 2013 in Turkey, they won their first world title in this age group.

The French World Cup squad by coach Pierre Mankowski was made up of the following players ( finalist in bold) together: Goal: Alphonse Aréola (Paris SG ), Paul Charruau ( Valenciennes ), Maxime Dupé (FC Nantes) Defenders: Lucas Digne ( Lille OSC ), Dimitri Foulquier ( Stade Rennes ), Christopher Jullien (AJ Auxerre ), Pierre -Yves Polomat (AS Saint- Étienne ), Youssouf Sabaly (Paris SG), Mouhamadou - Naby Sarr ( Olympique Lyon), Samuel Umtiti ( Olympique Lyon ), Kurt Zoume (AS Saint- Étienne ) Midfielders: Geoffrey Kondogbia (FC Sevilla ), Mario Lemina (FC Lorient ), Axel Ngando ( Stade Rennes ), Paul Pogba ( Juventus ), Jordan Veretout (FC Nantes) Attack: Jean -Christophe Bahebeck (ES Troyes AC), Alexy Bosetti (OGC Nice), Yaya Sanogo ( Auxerre ), Florian Thauvin (SC Bastia), Thibaut Vion (FC Porto )

Paul Pogba was also awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

Toulon Tournament

The Tournament of Toulon is, after the European Championships, the most important of the U-21 national teams. It takes place every year since 1974 in Toulon, France. Hosted by the U -21 France.

The French were so far 20 times in the finals for the coveted trophy. Ten times the title was won. Your first finals was in 1975. Those days you had to go against the Argentine selection lose out. The following year we lost the final against Bulgaria. Only in 1977 did the title in Toulon. With Gérard Soler had the best player and scorer of the tournament in their own ranks. Seven years and two final defeats passed before the second success was celebrated (1984). This time the title was defended. Jean -Pierre Papin contributed five goals in to win the title and thus led to the scoresheet. With Jean -Claude Nadon and another Frenchman, was honored as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. For the third consecutive year was France's junior team in the finals, but the title this time could not win. It was not until 1987-1988 managed the three-time consecutive win. In the 1990s, the Blue-White - Red six times were in the final for the title. However, the competition could be won only in 1997. During this time the star of some French footballer went on. Three players and a goalkeeper out of the team during this period were honored as best of the tournament ( 1993: Florian Maurice, 1994: Grégory Coupet ( goalkeeper ) 1995: Vikash Dhorasoo, 1997: Thierry Henry). Since 2004, the team dominated the tournament. Four titles could be won since then.

Coach

Incomplete

  • Michel Hidalgo
  • Jacky Brown
  • Marc Bourrier (1988-1993)
  • Raymond Domenech (1993-2004)
  • René Girard (2004 - August 2008)
  • Erick Mombaerts (August 2008 - December 2012)

Former Players

Selection

  • Jean -Alain Boumsong
  • Éric Cantona
  • Grégory Coupet
  • Vikash Dhorasoo
  • Mickaël Landreau
  • Florian Maurice
  • Stéphane Paille
  • Jean -Pierre Papin
  • Anthony Réveillère
  • Alain Roche
  • Franck Sauzée
  • Zinedine Zidane
Willy Sagnol Florent Sinama-Pongolle Amiens Valenciennes FC Olympique Lyonnais Kurt Zouma Sevilla FC Jean-Pierre Papin
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