The last game of France in the international break saw Zidane’s side struggle to unlock the sternest Belgian low block. Van Bommel’s side exploited France’s central and behind-the-backline gaps to open the score and exacerbate the situation for the French national team. After substitutions, Zidane’s side kicked into full gear to turn the game into […]
Not many games can be defined by the different acts opposing center-backs can partake in. Jérémy Jacquet dominated whenever he had to defend in front of him, whilst France only found spaces in the second half when Alessandro Bastoni defended in wider spots. A piece of free-kick magic got them in front, only for the Italian to […]
Two old rivals would meet at the start of new eras. Mark Van Bommel’s Belgium would play host to Zinédine Zidane’s France. Like in their playing careers, where they briefly met during their respective times at Barcelona and Real Madrid, there was a clear clash of styles on display: the speed and directness of Belgium […]
After a painfully long wait in the shadows, Zinedine Zidane finally took over from Didier Deschamps as France’s head coach. The new era promised change and for some of the more stale ideas to be renewed. That didn’t quite work out as planned, as Türkiye frustrated a France side that never quite threatened to find […]
It looked to be a humiliating night for Didier Deschamps in his final game in charge of France. England were 4-0 up at half-time, and while Les Bleus couldn’t take it all the way, they at least managed to send off their greatest ever manager with a bang, in a dizzy and ludicrous exhibition. Tactical […]
Though this World Cup concludes with its top teams in contention for the crown, football frequently has a way of deviating from the script. On a day destined for French celebration, a well-drilled opposing outfit orchestrated a disappointing denouement for the head coach. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. We decided to make […]
It was to be a repeat of the 2022 World Cup semi-final in more ways than one as France met with Morocco in Boston for 2026’s opening quarter-final. Four years ago, France would eliminate the tournament’s dark horses 2-0. This time around, Morocco had shed the element of surprise surrounding their team’s success, but they […]
If not for Bradley Barcola picking up a yellow in the first half or Michael Olise for wagging his finger, you would have thought that the referee forgot to pack his cards. Paraguay would come out spotless in a match that was littered with hacks and fouls, as they successfully broke up a France attack […]
After the Netherlands and Germany fell, goals from Kylian Mbappé and Bradley Barcola would ensure that France wouldn’t become the latest European giants to exit at the Round of 32. Instead, Les Bleus were at their imperious best as they comfortably dispatched Sweden and set up an encounter with Paraguay. The question is, has Deschamps’ […]
France hadn’t won the 3rd group game of a major tournament since the 2006 World Cup, but usually, they’re the nation resting players at that point. Instead, it would be Norway who brought out the B-team as Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard were given a reprieve ahead of the Round of 32. France unsurprisingly came […]