France endured a night to forget in Stuttgart as they lost a dramatic 5-4 thriller to Spain in the UEFA Nations League semi-final on Thursday, picking up some unwanted records along the way.

Despite a spirited late comeback, Les Bleus were blown away early on, conceding four goals without reply — a feat not seen since August 1982, when they trailed 4-0 against Poland, according to OptaJean.

Even more damning, the five goals shipped mark the first time France have conceded that many in a single match since a 5-0 defeat to England in March 1969.

Under Didier Deschamps, France came into the match with high hopes of reaching their second Nations League final, having won the title in 2021 after a 2-1 victory over Spain in Italy — a match famously sealed by a late winner from Kylian Mbappé.

But Thursday’s performance painted a different picture.

Spain, the newly crowned Euro 2024 champions, ruthlessly dismantled France’s defence, racing to a commanding lead before Les Bleus mounted a late but ultimately futile comeback.

While the attacking effort showed character, the ease with which Spain cut through France’s backline has raised serious questions about their tactical discipline and readiness for upcoming tournaments.

France now turn their attention to the third-place play-off against Germany on Sunday afternoon, hoping to salvage some pride and end their Nations League campaign on a positive note.

Meanwhile, Spain will clash with Portugal in the final later that day.

With a World Cup and Nations League title already under Deschamps’ belt, expectations are always high — but after this historic collapse, it’s clear France has defensive issues to resolve before the next competitive window.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on France set unwanted records in Nations League loss to Spain.

France national team manager Didier Deschamps has announced that he will leave his position after the 2026 World Cup. Deschamps, who took over as manager in 2012, has led France to several successes, including winning the 2018 World Cup and reaching the 2022 final.

In an interview with TF1, Deschamps confirmed that he will allow his contract to expire after the 2026 tournament. “I’ve been here since 2012, and I will remain until 2026 and the next World Cup,” he said. “But it will end there because it has to.”

Deschamps’ decision to step down has sparked speculation about his potential successor. According to L’Equipe, former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is the leading candidate to take over as France manager in 2026. Zidane has long been linked with the role and is reportedly eager to take charge of Les Bleus.

Other potential candidates include Thierry Henry, who resigned as France Under-21 manager last summer.

Deschamps’ departure will mark the end of an era for France, but he is confident that the team will continue to thrive under new leadership. “The most important thing is for France to remain on top, like it has for several years,” he said.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Didier Deschamps to step down as France manager in 2026.

France head coach Didier Deschamps has addressed the controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s absence from the French squad for the Nations League 2024.

Many were surprised when the Real Madrid star’s name was missing from the squad list, especially since Mbappé had played in recent games for his club against Lille and Villarreal, despite being declared unfit for international duty.

This situation fueled speculation that Real Madrid might influence decisions regarding Mbappé’s availability for international matches, leading to criticism of the player for allegedly avoiding national team responsibilities.

In a recent interview, Deschamps clarified that the decision to leave Mbappé out of the squad was entirely his own, and not influenced by external factors.

He insisted it was based on the player’s fitness and a precautionary measure to ensure Mbappé’s well-being, rather than any interference from Real Madrid or Mbappé himself.

He had said: “Mbappe was not fit against Villarreal. There was no request. The decision is mine. He played the Villarreal game without being 100 percent fit.”

Kylian Mbappé has been grappling with match fitness issues after sustaining a knock in the lead-up to his last two fixtures for Real Madrid before the international break. Despite featuring in those games, concerns about his fitness persisted, ultimately influencing his exclusion from France’s Nations League 2024 squad.

His ongoing struggle with recovery has prompted caution from both his club and the national team, with an emphasis on ensuring he fully regains his form before returning to peak performance.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Deschamps outlines reason for Mbappe’s absence from France squad.

Mason Greenwood is on the verge of joining Marseille as the Manchester United outcast heads to France for a medical.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, an agreement has been reached for Greenwood to join the Ligue 1 side on a permanent deal. Marseille has scheduled a medical for the 22-year-old, who is then expected to sign a five-year contract. Manchester United will receive €30 million (£25 million/$32.7 million) for the young forward.

Greenwood’s departure will end his tenure at Old Trafford and give him a fresh start in France. However, there has been some opposition to the transfer. Marseille’s mayor has called Greenwood a “disgrace” and urged the club not to finalize the move.

Some supporters have also expressed their disapproval, but manager Roberto De Zerbi has pledged to support Greenwood if he joins the team.

Greenwood made 36 appearances in all competitions for Getafe last season, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists. Despite the controversy surrounding him, he impressed and attracted interest from both Lazio and Marseille this summer.

Greenwood is expected to pass the standard medical tests without any issues and will likely meet new head coach Roberto De Zerbi while finalizing the deal. Then, he will immediately begin preparations with Marseille for the upcoming season in France.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Mason Greenwood set to join Marseille from Manchester United.

Spain secured their place in the final of Euro 2024 with a 2-1 victory over France in Munich on July 9, 2024.

Les Bleus took an early lead, but their advantage was quickly overturned by a resurgent La Roja side, who responded swiftly to turn the game around.

Luis de la Fuente’s men will now face either England or the Netherlands, who play in Dortmund on Wednesday, in the final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion this Sunday.

France opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Ousmane Dembele dribbled in from the right flank and found Kylian Mbappe on the opposite wing. Mbappe delivered a perfect cross to Randal Kolo Muani, who got past defender Aymeric Laporte and headed his team in front.

However, France’s lead lasted only 12 minutes. Spain’s Lamine Yamal received the ball 25 yards out, moved infield, and unleashed a looping strike over goalkeeper Mike Maignan, making history as the youngest scorer in the European Championships.

Spain took the lead soon after when Dani Olmo’s low strike deflected off Jules Kounde and into the net after France failed to clear their lines in their own box.

Didier Deschamps made several attacking substitutions early in the second half in an attempt to regain control, but France could only create half-chances.

Spain’s progression to the final was confirmed after five minutes of stoppage time, ending France’s hopes of a first European title in 24 years.

A sensational goal from 16-year-old phenomenon Lamine Yamal helped Spain come from behind to beat France 2-1 in Munich and secure their place in the Euro 2024 final. Yamal became the youngest player to score at a European Championship or World Cup, surpassing the record previously held by Brazil legend Pele, with his stunning 25-yard effort.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Spain reach Euro 2024 final with comeback win against France.

In a tightly contested quarter-final at Euro 2024, France edged past Portugal in a penalty shootout to secure a spot in the semi-finals. The match, which remained goalless after a lackluster 120 minutes of play, saw Joao Felix miss his penalty, proving decisive as Portugal bowed out of the tournament.

France, who have yet to score or concede from open play throughout the competition, now prepare to face Spain in the semi-finals. The game featured few clear-cut chances, with both teams resorting to long-range efforts in a cautious first half.

🇫🇷 France are faultless in the penalty shootout to advance 👏#EURO2024 | #PORFRA pic.twitter.com/6jdxFKs3XM

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024

Portugal’s hopes were dashed, sealing their fate in the shootout. Despite late efforts from both sides in extra time, including a missed chance by Cristiano Ronaldo and a close header from Joao Felix hitting the side-netting, France held their nerve to advance.

The match underscored France’s resilience and defensive solidity, setting the stage for an exciting clash against Spain in the next round of Euro 2024.

Penalties

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on France defeats Portugal in penalties, advancing to EURO 2024 semi-finals.

The UEFA European Championships 2024 group stage draw has been conducted, setting the stage for the tournament. The draw took place in Hamburg, and here are the groups:

Group A:
– Germany
– Hungary
– Scotland
– Switzerland

Group B:
– Spain
– Albania
– Croatia
– Italy

Group C:
– England
– Denmark
– Slovenia
– Serbia

Group D:
– France
– Austria
– Netherlands
– Play-off winner A (Poland, Estonia, Wales, or Finland)

Group E:
– Belgium
– Romania
– Slovakia
– Play-off winner B (Israel, Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, or Ukraine)

Group F:
– Portugal
– Turkey
– Czech Republic
– Play-off winner C (Georgia, Luxembourg, Greece, or Kazakhstan)

The tournament is set to begin on June 14, 2024, with Germany hosting Scotland at the Allianz Arena at 8 p.m. BST. The top two teams from each group will advance to the last 16, joined by the four best third-place teams. The remaining three finalists will be confirmed in March after the conclusion of the play-offs.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Euro 2024 group stage draw revealed.

Antoine Griezmann has hailed three Germany players ahead of France’s meeting with their beleaguered European rivals.

Prior to the match between the two teams on Tuesday, Griezmann took the opportunity to praise three members of the opposition’s team. The statements come in the midst of a crisis in Germany, where Hansi Flick was fired following a 4-1 thrashing against Japan. They have fallen to Poland and Colombia in addition to losing their last three games.

Per Sport journalist Patrick Berger, Griezmann said: “I really liked the player Wirtz, I think his name is Wirtz. I think it’s great how he played. I also really like Kimmich. He is a bit the general of the German team. He does everything well. He can play on the right, play on the six. He’s a leader.

“Leroy Sané is also good. Even if he has ups and downs, he is a great attacker. He always wants to put the opponent under pressure.”

Griezmann is one of the most experienced players of the French squad, having played 122 times for his country and scoring 43 goals. If he plays against Germany, he will tie Arsenal icon Thierry Henry for the fourth-most capped French player of all time.

The world champions will face Germany in a friendly on Tuesday.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Antoine Griezmann hails three Germany players ahead of clash.

Kylian Mbappe is paid about £14 million per year to wear the Nike boots that he used to score his 54th goal of the 2022/23 season, a record for any Frenchman in a single season.

Just Fontaine set the previous record in 1957/58 while wearing borrowed boots and scoring three of his 53 goals.

Fontaine’s single-season score has not been surpassed in 65 years, with Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, and Thierry Henry all falling short of the Moroccan-born striker.

Mbappe shares Fontaine’s quick feet – whatever is covering them – and is the same age as his predecessor when he was at his prime (24) but has an entirely different profile.

Fontaine was forced to change his footwear during the 1958 World Cup partly because he wasn’t expecting to play a significant role in the tournament. In the training camp ahead of the games in Sweden, Fontaine admitted: “I am our centre-forward only till [Raymond] Kopa arrives.” The then Reims striker was afforded a start in the opening game against Paraguay because Rene Bliard picked up an injury.

Mbappe, on the other hand, was named France captain in March and wields such power at his club that he has felt necessary to explain that PSG is not Kylian Saint-Germain.

Just Fontaine’s goals in 1957/58

France thrashed Paraguay 7-3 thanks to a hat-trick from Fontaine. It’s interesting that Fontaine, who concluded the 1957–1958 league season as the French top-flight’s leading scorer for the Stade de Reims squad that won the championship, arrived in Sweden with such a weak squad ranking.

Reims also won the 1958 Coupe de France, with Fontaine helping his team to a 2-1 victory over Nimes in the championship game. However, Bliard, a clubmate of Fontaine’s and an international opponent, scored twice that day.

In Bliard’s place, Fontaine and Raymond Kopa established a fearsome team, latching onto the future Ballon d’Or winner’s flurry of through balls each game as France advanced to the 1958 World Cup semifinals.

Despite scoring a goal against Pele’s Brazil, Fontaine’s team was unable to defeat the Seleçao. With four goals against West Germany in the third-place playoff, Fontaine brought his total for the tournament to 13, surpassing the record set by no other player in history.

Kylian Mbappe’s goals in 2022/23

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Kylian Mbappe smashes the 65-year scoring record for France..

The contract with Chelsea was reached before the World Cup, and the France international will move from RB Leipzig to Stamford Bridge the following month.

Nkunku’s transfer confirmation, which will exceed his £52.7 million release clause, has been postponed until the end of the current season in anticipation of the 2023–24 season, in which he will play for Mauricio Pochettino. The reason behind the postponement has been made public.

Chelsea, they wait to make it public, but there are no issues. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano wrote: “No changes, no issues or no problems on Christopher Nkunku deal.

“Understand Chelsea originally agreed with RB Leipzig to announce Nkunku after his final games of the season with France (June 19). Medical done in September (!), contract signed in December.”

No changes, no issues or no problems on Christopher Nkunku deal 🔒 #CFC

Understand Chelsea originally agreed with RB Leipzig to announce Nkunku after his final games of the season with France (June 19).

Medical done in September (!), contract signed in December. 🔵🤝🏻 pic.twitter.com/ASfD7phQLZ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 12, 2023

Nkunku is currently representing France at the international level as they prepare to face Greece and Gibraltar in the EURO 2024 qualifying games.

Wesley Fofana, a French-speaking defender for Chelsea, expressed his opinion on his probable arrival to Telefoot, saying, “I hope he comes and plays for us. He would be a very good signing.”

Nkunku remained coy on the transfer, after being asked questions about his future. He said: “I am focused on gathering with Les Bleus. Everything that happens after, we will have time to think.”

The deal to bring Nkunku to the Premier League team is done.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Christopher Nkunku Chelsea announcement date ‘confirmed’ with explained.

In Argentina’s first game following their 2022 World Cup victory, Lionel Messi scored his 800th career goal as they defeated Panama 2-0 in a friendly match.

The 35-year-old became only the second player to reach the impressive milestone after his old rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. He now has a staggering 99 international goals to his name with 672 for Barcelona and 29 for Paris Saint-Germain.

To the pleasure of the crowd at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires, Messi scored in an emotional World Cup winners’ homecoming, and he and his squad celebrated lavishly before and after the game.

Thiago Almada scored the first goal to start the celebrations, and in the 89th minute, just as it appeared that Messi may not be able to cap off the event with a proper shot, he hit the top-right corner with an incredible free kick.

“I always dreamed of this moment, celebrating with you,” an emotional Messi said after the match as he paraded around the pitch with his family and the World Cup trophy.

RELATED:

• Lionel Scaloni gives update on Lionel Messi’s Argentina future
• Harry Kane becomes England’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer.
• Ronaldo sets another record in Portugal’s latest win.

“I want to thank you all for the love and recognition that you have been receiving, not only after the World Cup but also for the Copa America,” Messi told the crowd after the match. “We said that we were going to give it all for this trophy.”

Messi will achieve the remarkable milestone of 100 goals for the national team if he scores another goal in Argentina’s forthcoming friendly match against Curacao on Tuesday. This follows their World Cup victory.

Lionel Messi quite simply is the 🐐

99 international goals.

800 career goals.

This is greatness. pic.twitter.com/J2YBkR88uH

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 24, 2023

In what felt like an appropriate homage to that momentous occasion for the nation, Lionel Scaloni chose the same starting lineup from the World Cup final triumph against France in Qatar.

In front of about 80,000 spectators, Messi raised the World Cup trophy while his teammates held up smaller reproductions of the same trophy. The winning team made a deliberate victory lap as fireworks were turned off over the stadium.

With 172 games under his belt, he has already surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer in terms of goals scored, with 56 in 78.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on “I always dreamed of the moment” – Lionel Messi scores 800th career goal.

Lionel Messi praised Paris Saint-Germain colleague Kylian Mbappe for his performance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

After a dramatic 3-3 draw in overtime, Argentina defeated France on penalties to win their third world title and prevent Les Bleus from retaining the trophy.

La Albiceleste scored three goals, two of which were scored by Messi, while Mbappe scored an incredible hat-trick at the Lusail Historic Stadium.

Messi addressed one of the most famous title games in sports history while speaking to PSG TV.

“It really was a breathtaking final. It was crazy how the match went. Kylian scored three incredible goals, in a final! Not being able to be champion after that was crazy,” he said.

RELATED:

• Lionel Messi explains why his first PSG season was difficult.
• Kylian Mbappe set to be in PSG squad to face Bayern Munich
• Lionel Messi crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player for 2022

“But he’s already won it too, and he knows what it’s like to be world champion. So yes, it was a great final for the football world. And now it’s true that it’s nice to be able to play in the same team with him, and I hope we can do great things here in Paris.”

Back at the club level, PSG is aiming to win the Champions League for the first time, but they are down a goal going into the second leg against Bayern Munich after losing the first game at Parc des Princes last month.

“We’re going to Munich, where it’s going to be a very tough match, just like the first one,” Messi said. “Everything will be decided by small details, especially as it is very difficult to win in this stadium.

“But I think that if we do things right, we are capable of turning things around. We want to continue our journey in the Champions League. And that’s what we will try to do.”

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Lionel Messi talks about the World Cup final match with Kylian Mbappe..