France national under-21 football team

France Under-21
Nickname(s)	Les Bleuets (The Little Blues) ; Les Espoirs (The Hopes)
Association	French Football Federation
Head coach	Thierry Henry
Captain	Warren Zaïre-Emery
Most caps	Mickaël Landreau (46)
Top scorer	Odsonne Édouard (17)
First colours	Second colours
First international
	France 7–1 England ; (Le Havre, France; 22 May 1952)
Biggest win
	France 9–0 Cyprus ; (Grenoble, France; 17 October 2023)
Biggest defeat
	England 6–0 France ; (Sheffield, England; 28 February 1984); Records for competitive; matches only.
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances	11 (first in 1982)
Best result	Winners (1988)

The France national under-21 football team (French: Equipe de France Espoirs), known in France as Les Espoirs (French pronunciation: [ɛs.pwaʁ], The Hopes), is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, held every two years.

Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, under-21 football teams in Europe were formed. The team is exclusively for football players that are age 21 or under at the start of the two-year campaign of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, meaning a player can represent the national team until the age of 23.

France has won the Under-21 Championship once, in 1988. Notable players on the team that went on to play for the senior national team include Laurent Blanc, Eric Cantona, Franck Sauzée, and Jocelyn Angloma, among others.[1] Blanc was named the tournament's Golden Player.[2] The team's best finish since was in 2002 when the team finished runners-up to the Czech Republic in Switzerland.

The France under-21 team does not have a permanent home. The team plays in stadiums located all around France, particularly grounds of Ligue 2 clubs. Because of the smaller demand compared to the senior national team, smaller facilities are used. Recently, the under-21 team has established the Stade Auguste-Delaune II, home of Stade Reims, as a home residence having played numerous matches there over the past two seasons.

History

Though, under-21 teams weren't formed until 1976, Les Espoirs, a youth national team in France, had existed since 1950 playing its first match on 22 May 1952 defeating England 7–1 at the Stade Jules Deschaseaux in Le Havre. The team's next match was two years later suffering a 3–1 defeat to Italy in Vicenza. For the rest of the decade, the youth team played seven more matches, which included a 1–1 draw with Hungary in Budapest and a 2–0 loss to England in Sunderland in 1959. In the 1960s, Espoirs continued to play matches against fellow national youth sides. However, on 18 December 1968, the team contested a match against Algeria senior team in Algiers recording an impressive 5–2 victory. Four days later, the team draw 1–1 with the under-23 team of Algeria in Oran. On 12 February 1969, the Espoirs played the Hungary senior team at the Stade Gerland in Lyon. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.

Team image

Media coverage

France's under-21 football friendlies and qualifying matches are broadcast by Direct 8.

Results and fixtures

Legend

Win Draw Lose Fixture

2022

19 November Friendly	France	1–1	Norway	Caen, France
	Adli 17'	Report	Hove 83'	Stadium: Stade Michel d'Ornano

2023

25 March Friendly	England	4–0	France	Leicester, England
	Smith Rowe 51' Madueke 77' Jones 79' Ramsey 86'	Report		Stadium: King Power Stadium Referee: Joey Kooij (Netherlands)

28 March Friendly	France	0–0	Spain	Vannes, France
		Report		Stadium: Stade de la Rabine

16 June Friendly	France	1–0	Mexico	Grenoble, France
	Caqueret 34'	Report		Stadium: Stade des Alpes

22 June U21 Euro 2023 GS	France	2–1	Italy	Cluj-Napoca, Romania
21:45 EEST (UTC+3)	Kalimuendo 22' Barcola 62'	Report	Pellegri 36'	Stadium: Cluj Arena Attendance: 11,286 Referee: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands)

25 June U21 Euro 2023 GS	Norway	0–1	France	Cluj-Napoca, Romania
21:45 EEST (UTC+3)		Report	Olise 57'	Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Attendance: 1,507 Referee: Donatas Rumšas (Lithuania)

28 June U21 Euro 2023 GS	Switzerland	1–4	France	Cluj-Napoca, Romania
21:45 EEST (UTC+3)	Ndoye 35'	Report	Gouiri 16' (pen.) Barcola 65' Cherki 76' Caqueret 81'	Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Attendance: 1,652 Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)

2 July U21 Euro 2023 QF	France	1–3	Ukraine	Cluj-Napoca, Romania
22:00 EEST (UTC+3)	Cherki 19'	Report	Sudakov 32' (pen.), 44' Bondarenko 86'	Stadium: Cluj Arena Attendance: 6,281 Referee: João Pinheiro (Portugal)

7 September Friendly	France	4–1	Denmark	Nancy, France
	Lepenant 23' Cherki 38' Wahi 75', 90'	Report	Cherki 50'	Stadium: Stade Marcel Picot Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Jonathan Lardot (Belgium)

11 September 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	Slovenia	0–4	France	Koper, Slovenia
		Report	Barcola 45+1', 57' Cherki 50' Mara 88'	Stadium: Bonifika Stadium Referee: Ondřej Berka (Czech Republic)

13 October 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–2	France	Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
	Bristrić 28'	Report	Cherki 32' Kalimuendo 90+2'	Stadium: Stadion Grbavica Referee: Mohammed Al-Emara (Saudi Arabia)

17 October 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	France	v	Cyprus	Grenoble, France
		Report		Stadium: Stade des Alpes

17 November 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	Austria	v	France	Austria
		Report		Stadium: TBD

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 21 August 2023

Position	Name	Nationality
Manager	Thierry Henry	French
Assistant manager	Gérald Baticle	French
Assistant manager	Gaël Clichy	French
Goalkeeping coach	Patrick L'Hostis	French
Doctor	Marc Chasselat	French
Physiotherapist	Florian Simon	French

Players

Current squad

For the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, including the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible.

The following 23 players were called up for 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matchs against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cyprus on 13 and 17 October 2023, respectively.[3]

Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped by the senior team.

Caps and goals as of 17 October 2023, after the team's match against Cyprus.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Guillaume Restes	(2005-03-11) 11 March 2005	4	0	Toulouse
1GK	Robin Risser	(2004-12-02) 2 December 2004	0	0	Dijon
1GK	Obed Nkambadio	(2003-02-07) 7 February 2003	0	0	Paris FC

2DF	Quentin Merlin	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002	9	0	Nantes
2DF	Chrislain Matsima	(2002-05-15) 15 May 2002	3	1	Monaco
2DF	Leny Yoro	(2005-11-13) 13 November 2005	3	0	Lille
2DF	Kiliann Sildillia	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002	2	0	SC Freiburg
2DF	Soungoutou Magassa	(2003-10-08) 8 October 2003	1	0	Monaco
2DF	Maxime Estève	(2002-05-26) 26 May 2002	1	0	Montpellier
2DF	Bradley Locko	(2002-05-06) 6 May 2002	0	0	Brest

3MF	Johann Lepenant	(2002-10-22) 22 October 2002	5	1	Lyon
3MF	Maghnes Akliouche	(2002-02-25) 25 February 2002	4	1	Monaco
3MF	Warren Zaïre-Emery (captain)	(2006-03-08) 8 March 2006	4	0	Paris Saint-Germain
3MF	Lesley Ugochukwu	(2004-03-26) 26 March 2004	4	0	Chelsea
3MF	Habib Diarra	(2004-01-03) 3 January 2004	3	0	Strasbourg
3MF	Lucas Gourna-Douath	(2003-08-05) 5 August 2003	1	0	Red Bull Salzburg
3MF	Enzo Millot	(2002-07-17) 17 July 2002	0	0	VfB Stuttgart

4FW	Arnaud Kalimuendo	(2002-01-20) 20 January 2002	26	8	Rennes
4FW	Rayan Cherki	(2003-08-17) 17 August 2003	18	11	Lyon
4FW	Bradley Barcola	(2002-09-02) 2 September 2002	11	4	Paris Saint-Germain
4FW	Elye Wahi	(2003-01-02) 2 January 2003	11	3	Lens
4FW	Mathys Tel	(2005-04-27) 27 April 2005	2	2	Bayern Munich
4FW	Désiré Doué	(2005-06-03) 3 June 2005	1	0	Rennes

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the France under-21 squad and remain eligible:

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Lucas Lavallée	(2003-02-18) 18 February 2003	0	0	Dunkerque	v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023
GK	Thimothée Lo-Tutala	(2003-02-13) 13 February 2003	0	0	Hull City	v. Norway, 19 November 2022

DF	Castello Lukeba	(2002-12-17) 17 December 2002	14	0	RB Leipzig	v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 13 October 2023 ^SEN
DF	Malo Gusto	(2003-05-19) 19 May 2003	9	1	Chelsea	v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 13 October 2023 ^SEN
DF	Thierno Baldé	(2002-06-10) 10 June 2002	1	0	Troyes	v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023
DF	Tanguy Nianzou	(2002-06-07) 7 June 2002	1	1	Sevilla	v. Denmark, 7 September 2023 ^INJ
DF	Jeanuël Belocian	(2005-02-17) 17 February 2005	0	0	Rennes	v. Denmark, 7 September 2023 ^WD
DF	Ismaël Doukouré	(2003-07-24) 24 July 2003	1	0	Strasbourg	v. Spain, 28 March 2023
DF	Yoan Koré	(2004-11-16) 16 November 2004	0	0	Paris FC	v. Spain, 28 March 2023

MF	Lucien Agoumé	(2002-02-09) 9 February 2002	2	0	Inter Milan	v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023
MF	Andy Diouf	(2003-05-17) 17 May 2003	1	0	Lens	v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023
MF	Eduardo Camavinga	(2002-11-10) 10 November 2002	13	2	Real Madrid	v. Ukraine, 9 June 2022

FW	Sékou Mara	(2002-07-30) 30 July 2002	4	1	Southampton	v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023
FW	Wilson Odobert	(2004-11-28) 28 November 2004	1	0	Burnley	v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023
FW	Matthis Abline	(2003-03-28) 28 March 2003	4	1	Nantes	v. Spain, 28 March 2023
FW	Georginio Rutter	(2002-04-20) 20 April 2002	4	0	Leeds United	v. Belgium, 26 September 2022
FW	Mohamed-Ali Cho	(2004-01-19) 19 January 2004	7	0	Real Sociedad	v. Germany, 23 September 2022 ^INJ
FW	Hugo Ekitike	(2002-06-20) 20 June 2002	0	0	Paris Saint-Germain	v. North Macedonia, 16 November 2021
FW	Janis Antiste	(2002-08-18) 18 August 2002	1	0	Reggiana	v. Serbia, 12 October 2021
FW	Nathanaël Mbuku	(2002-03-16) 16 March 2002	2	1	FC Augsburg	v. Faroe Islands, 6 September 2021
FW	Isaac Lihadji	(2002-04-10) 10 April 2002	2	1	Al-Duhail	v. Switzerland, 16 November 2020

Notes

Players in italics have played at senior level.
^COV Withdrew due to COVID-19
^CLU Player withdrew from the squad because of a club necessity.
^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
^SEN Player withdrew from the squad due to a call up to the senior team.
^WD Player withdrew from the squad due to personal reasons.

Previous squads

U-21 European Championship squads

Honours

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Champions (1): 1988

Runners-up (1): 2002

Toulon Tournament

Champions (12): 1977, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015

Finalists (14): 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016

Competitive record

UEFA U-23 Championship

1972: Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 4 in qualification group.
1974: Did not qualify. Finished 3rd of 3 in qualification group.
1976: Losing quarter-finalists.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Year	Result	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1978	Did not qualify	4	0	1	3	4	6
1980	Did not qualify	4	2	1	1	3	2
1982	Quarter-finals	6	3	1	2	9	8
1984	Quarter-finals	6	3	1	2	11	9
1986	Quarter-finals	8	2	3	3	13	13
1988	Champions	12	6	5	1	21	13
1990	Did not qualify	6	3	2	1	11	7
1992	Did not qualify	8	3	2	3	7	5
1994	Fourth place	14	10	2	2	24	8
1996	Third place	14	8	4	2	30	5
1998	Did not qualify	8	4	3	1	13	8
2000	Did not qualify	8	6	2	2	19	6
2002	Runners-up	15	12	3	0	27	7
2004	Did not qualify	10	8	1	1	20	7
2006	Semi-finals	14	10	2	2	24	10
2007	Did not qualify	4	2	1	1	6	3
2009		10	5	3	2	17	7
2011		8	4	3	1	12	6
2013		10	8	0	2	23	7
2015		10	8	1	1	31	11
2017		10	6	2	2	17	8
2019	Semi-finals	14	11	2	1	28	11
2021	Quarter-finals	14	11	0	3	37	13
2023	Quarter-finals	14	11	2	1	39	10
Total	1 title	223	137	46	40	414	180

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

**Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won. Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

References

"1988: France sweep to final glory". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
"1988: Laurent Blanc". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
"Fédération Française de Football" (in French).

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "1988: France sweep to final glory". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2010.

[2] "1988: Laurent Blanc". Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2010.

[3] "Fédération Française de Football" (in French).

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