france Archives - The Athletic NG

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has tipped France to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup after his initial favourites Germany were eliminated, with Les Bleus now just one victory away from another final.

Super Eagles goalkeeper predicts France will lift World Cup trophy

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye believes France have emerged as the favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, revealing he switched...

France coach Didier Deschamps says the challenge facing his current squad is unlike previous World Cup campaigns, with Les Bleus now carrying the weight of expectation after reaching another semi-final.

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Deschamps compares France’s 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cup campaign expectations

Didier Deschamps believes the greatest challenge facing his France side at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is not the quality of their...

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi refused to blame injuries for his side's World Cup exit to France, insisting the Atlas Lions already possess the talent, structure and ambition to one day become FIFA World Cup champions.

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Ouahbi: Morocco came to win the World Cup, not just make up the numbers

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has insisted his country’s World Cup journey is driven by the ambition to become champions rather than...

France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the lengthy delay before Kylian Mbappé's first-half penalty against Morocco caused frustration, agreeing with Erling Haaland's criticism despite Les Bleus' 2-0 World Cup quarter-final victory.

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Deschamps agrees with Haaland over lengthy VAR delay before Mbappe penalty miss

France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the lengthy delay before Kylian Mbappé’s first half penalty against Morocco created frustration for his captain, openly...

France coach Didier Deschamps says the secret behind Les Bleus' march into a third consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final lies not in individual brilliance but in a squad united by sacrifice, togetherness and collective responsibility.

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‘The collective comes first’: Deschamps reveals France’s World Cup formula

France may boast one of the most feared attacking units in world football, but Didier Deschamps insists their march into a third...

From Neymar and Manuel Neuer to Sadio Mane and Nicolas Otamendi, here are 12 football stars who announced their international retirement after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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Messi, Argentina and the bias FIFA debate: What does the evidence really say?

The deeper Argentina advance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the louder one question continues to echo around the tournament. Are the...

France star Kylian Mbappe, Paraguay senator Celeste Amarilla and the French Football Federation have become embroiled in a heated racism row following France's World Cup victory over Paraguay. Here's how the controversy unfolded.

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Mbappe-Paraguay row explained: How World Cup clash sparked racism storm and apology demand

The fallout from France’s World Cup last-16 victory over Paraguay has developed into one of the tournament’s biggest off field controversies, with...

A viral quote claiming Didier Deschamps explained why he bowed to Kylian Mbappé after France's World Cup win over Sweden is circulating online. Here's what is true, what is false, and what the France coach actually said.

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Fact Check: Deschamps bowed to Mbappé – but not with the viral speech flooding social media. Here’s the truth

A viral social media post claiming France coach Didier Deschamps delivered an emotional explanation for bowing to Kylian Mbappe after the World...

France coach Didier Deschamps has described Michael Olise as an "extraordinary player", insisting the Bayern star now belongs among Les Bleus' world-class attacking talents after another dazzling World Cup display.

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France coach puts Michael Olise in elite company after World Cup display

France head coach Didier Deschamps believes Michael Olise has firmly established himself among football’s elite after hailing the Bayern playmaker as an...