FRANCE

6Aug

By Football FlameNo Comments

FRANCE, Jean-Philippe Mateta

France beats Egypt, will face Spain in men’s soccer final at Paris Olympics

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice as France advanced to the final of the men’s soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics with a 3-1 win over Egypt after extra time on Monday.France will play Spain in Friday’s final at Parc des Princes in a match that will ensure the first European gold medalist in 32 years. France's forward #14 Jean-Philippe Mateta kicks the ball to score during the men's semi-final football match between France and Egypt during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon on August 5, 2024. The host nation came from behind at Stade de Lyon to beat an Egypt team that was closing in on an upset after leading through Mahmoud Saber’s 62nd-minute goal.France had hit the frame of the goal on three occasions before Mateta equalized in the 83rd and sent the game i...

28Mar

By Football FlameNo Comments

Benjamin Pavard, EURO 2024, FRANCE, NEWS

Pavard hits superb winner as France beat Republic

Benjamin Pavard of France celebrates with teammates Kylian Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga after scoring the team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group B match between Republic of Ireland and France at Dublin Arena on March 27, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland. The Republic of Ireland made a losing start to Euro 2024 qualifying as Benjamin Pavard’s superb second-half goal gave France victory in Dublin. Having held the French in a first half of few chances, the Republic fell behind five minutes after the restart when Pavard intercepted a Josh Cullen pass and fired past Gavin Bazunu. The Republic put the beaten World Cup finalists under severe pressure late on but fell short as Mike Maignan’s stunning save denied Nathan Collins a late leveller. The Republic’s next qual...

25Mar

By Football FlameNo Comments

EURO 2024, FRANCE, Kylian Mbappe, NEWS

Mbappe scores twice as France thrash Netherlands

Antoine Griezmann celebrates his goal on the back of Kylian Mbappe, right Adrien Rabiot during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group B match between France and Netherlands at Stade de France on March 24, 2023 in Saint-Denis near Paris, France. Kylian Mbappe scored his first goals as France captain as the World Cup finalists began their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a comfortable win against the Netherlands. The hosts were ahead after just two minutes when Antoine Griezmann curled in from Mbappe’s pass. Defender Dayot Upamecano made it 2-0 six minutes later as he bundled in. Mbappe then got his 37th goal for France when he drove in, before powering home his second late on. Griezmann had reportedly been unhappy at being overlooked for the captaincy role given to Mbappe, but th...

1Mar

By Football FlameNo Comments

FRANCE, Just Fontaine, NEWS

Just Fontaine, France’s record World Cup goalscorer, dies aged 89

Ex-France international footballer Just Fontaine (C) receives the Adidas Platinum Boot award from ex-Brazil international footballer Ronaldo (L) and UEFA President Michel Platini during the Opening Ceremony of the 64th FIFA Congress at the Transamerica Expo Center on June 10, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.French football legend Just Fontaine, who in 1958 scored a record 13 goals in a single edition of the World Cup, has died aged 89. The prolific striker scored 30 goals in 21 internationals for France between 1953 and 1960. But Fontaine will always be remembered for the mark he set in Sweden, when he was instrumental in Les Bleus reaching the semi-finals. In his club career, Fontaine’s strike rate was as impressive. He scored 259 goals from 283 matches and was one of the key player...

9Jan

By Football FlameNo Comments

FRANCE, Kylian Mbappe, NEWS, Noel Le Graet, Zinedine Zidane

Mbappe slams French football president Le Graet for ‘disrespecting’ Zidane

Kylian Mbappé talks to the media during the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Brooklyn Nets on January 2, 2023 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.France forward Kylian Mbappe has come out in support of Zinedine Zidane after the country’s football federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet said he would not pick up the phone if the former midfielder called him to discuss coaching the national team. The FFF had announced head coach Didier Deschamps’s contract extension on Saturday after he led France to a second consecutive World Cup final, where they lost to Argentina on penalties in Qatar last month. Zidane had previously been a favourite to succeed Deschamps. When asked if Zidane, a World Cup winner with France in 1998 and a national icon, would now manage the Brazilian natio...

14Dec

By Football FlameNo Comments

FRANCE, Kolo Muani, NEWS, World Cup 2022

France edge past Morocco to set up Argentina final

Randal Kolo Muani of France scores the team's second goal during the Semi Final - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium on December 14, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.France were pushed all the way by World Cup wild cards Morocco before the holders sealed a place in Sunday's final against Argentina. The first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final refused to buckle despite suffering the early blows of losing key defender Nayef Aguerd to injury after he was named in the starting line-up, and then going behind to Theo Hernandez's scrambled fifth minute goal. France, for all Morocco's endeavour and spirit, were more clinical and substitute Kolo Muani ensured they will defend their crown against Argentina and Lionel Messi at Lusail Stadium on Sunday wh...

21Oct

By Football FlameNo Comments

BAYERN MUNICH, BUNDESLIGA, FRANCE, FRANCK RIBERY

Former Bayern Munich, France winger Franck Ribery retires from football

Franck Ribery of US Salernitana 1919 gestures during the Serie A match between US Salernitana 1919 and AS Roma at Stadio Arechi, Salerno, Italy on 14 August 2022. Franck Ribery, a former Bayern Munich and France winger, ended his football career on Friday, at age 39. “Dear friends, dear fans, I wanted to make this short video to tell you that the time has come for me to retire from playing football. With you and your support, I was able to make my dream become a reality, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Ribery said on Instagram. The 2006 FIFA World Cup silver medalist said that a persistent knee injury forced him to quit playing the game immediately. Ribery thanked his family, teammates, head coaches and staff at the clubs he played for. “This is the end of a chapter, my chapt...