Latest news with #LesBleus'
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘It's a dream… I can't wait': Zinedine Zidane on taking over French national team's coaching role
Footballing great and French veteran Zinedine Zidane said it would be a 'dream' job taking over the coaching duties of the France national team. The 52-year-old is reportedly set to succeed as the coach of France after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This development came after the Les Bleus' long-time coach Didier Deschamps announced his departure post the 2026 World Cup set to be played in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Deschamps has been in charge of the French side since 2012 and has led the French national team to the World Cup title in 2018 and the final in 2022. 'I feel qualified for the French team, where I played and spent practically 12, 13, 14 years as a player. Of course it's a dream. I can't wait,' said Zidane as the French media reported. 'I feel 100 per cent ready to coach. Of course, it's a desire. But there's a coach, there's a team, and we have to respect everything, and that's what we do. But when the time comes, it will be a great pleasure if the opportunity presents itself,' he added, as was quoted by Marca. Zidane also praised the 17-year-old Spanish and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal. 'When you see him play, for example, the semi-final against Inter Milan. I've never seen anything like that in my life. Just watch someone who has such a command of his craft on the pitch. It's fabulous to see him like that. We all had fun with him, and that's why, for all these young players, Lamine is the one to watch,' said the former captain of France, Zidane, who led his country to the World Cup title in 1998. Yamal, at such a young age, has astonishing talent. He has already won the Euro Cup with the Spanish national team in 2024, where they beat England 2-1 in the final. Yamal was the young player of the tournament. This season, he has won the domestic treble with Barca after winning the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup alongside a creditable semifinal run in the UEFA Champions League before losing 7-6 in a two-leg thriller against Inter Milan.
CNN
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Why French soccer star Antoine Griezmann is always celebrating a hat-trick on April 8
France and Atlético Madrid soccer star Antoine Griezmann has scored five hat-tricks in his career, but none are as special – or unique – as the hat-trick he has scored with his family. The 34-year-old World Cup winner celebrates the birthdays of his three children on the same day, April 8 – and none of them were born in the same year. Mia came first in 2016, and she was in his arms when he celebrated Les Bleus' World Cup triumph in Moscow two years later. In 2019, Amaro was born, and then Alba arrived in 2021. He says the fact that they share the same birthday is a total coincidence. 'It was neither intentional nor planned,' he told Journal De Femmes during an interview in 2023. 'It's just the way it is.' He also said that none of his wife's labors were induced, remarking to Le Figaro in 2021, 'It's crazy! I don't have any magic potion to explain such a thing except that when you're calm, relaxed on vacation, without pressure or matches or training, things happen naturally.' While highly unusual, the Griezmanns are not the only family to celebrate all their children's birthdays on the same date. The Lammerts in North Carolina have four daughters, each born three years apart, and their youngest girl was born a month ahead of schedule. Kristin Lammert told ABC News that when she and her husband realized that fate was going to give them all the same birthday, they just started laughing. The Griezmanns may be the highest profile example of such a wonderful family coincidence. Antoine has played 137 games for the French national team, and he's spent much of his career at Atlético Madrid, one of the top clubs in Spain's La Liga. He's won the Europa League with the Colchoneros and the Spanish Cup with Barcelona, and he's also played in the Champions League final and two World Cup finals – winning in 2018 and losing in 2022. But he's nowhere near the record for the most children born on the same day. According to Guinness World Records, that number is seven. In the Pakistani city of Larkana, Ameer Ali Mangi and Khudeja Ameer raised four boys and three girls – including two sets of twins – who were all born on August 1 between 1992 and 2003. Mangi told Arab News in 2023 that before setting the record, they used to celebrate birthdays modestly, but now they do so with 'Much more happiness and excitement!' His family is now globally famous and they are local celebrities who pose for selfies whenever they're recognized. What's even more remarkable, though, is that this family celebrates everything on the same day of the year, as not only were the children all born on August 1, both Mangi and Ameer were both born on that date in 1968 and 1973, and they were also married on that date in 1991. Springtime is often a special time for European soccer players – league titles and cup competitions are often decided in April and May. But whatever happens, Griezmann will always get to celebrate a hat-trick on April 8. 'It's a day that will be forever etched in the family's memory, especially between brothers and sisters,' he said.
CNN
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Why French soccer star Antoine Griezmann is always celebrating a hat-trick on April 8
France and Atlético Madrid soccer star Antoine Griezmann has scored five hat-tricks in his career, but none are as special – or unique – as the hat-trick he has scored with his family. The 34-year-old World Cup winner celebrates the birthdays of his three children on the same day, April 8 – and none of them were born in the same year. Mia came first in 2016, and she was in his arms when he celebrated Les Bleus' World Cup triumph in Moscow two years later. In 2019, Amaro was born, and then Alba arrived in 2021. He says the fact that they share the same birthday is a total coincidence. 'It was neither intentional nor planned,' he told Journal De Femmes during an interview in 2023. 'It's just the way it is.' He also said that none of his wife's labors were induced, remarking to Le Figaro in 2021, 'It's crazy! I don't have any magic potion to explain such a thing except that when you're calm, relaxed on vacation, without pressure or matches or training, things happen naturally.' While highly unusual, the Griezmanns are not the only family to celebrate all their children's birthdays on the same date. The Lammerts in North Carolina have four daughters, each born three years apart, and their youngest girl was born a month ahead of schedule. Kristin Lammert told ABC News that when she and her husband realized that fate was going to give them all the same birthday, they just started laughing. The Griezmanns may be the highest profile example of such a wonderful family coincidence. Antoine has played 137 games for the French national team, and he's spent much of his career at Atlético Madrid, one of the top clubs in Spain's La Liga. He's won the Europa League with the Colchoneros and the Spanish Cup with Barcelona, and he's also played in the Champions League final and two World Cup finals – winning in 2018 and losing in 2022. But he's nowhere near the record for the most children born on the same day. According to Guinness World Records, that number is seven. In the Pakistani city of Larkana, Ameer Ali Mangi and Khudeja Ameer raised four boys and three girls – including two sets of twins – who were all born on August 1 between 1992 and 2003. Mangi told Arab News in 2023 that before setting the record, they used to celebrate birthdays modestly, but now they do so with 'Much more happiness and excitement!' His family is now globally famous and they are local celebrities who pose for selfies whenever they're recognized. What's even more remarkable, though, is that this family celebrates everything on the same day of the year, as not only were the children all born on August 1, both Mangi and Ameer were both born on that date in 1968 and 1973, and they were also married on that date in 1991. Springtime is often a special time for European soccer players – league titles and cup competitions are often decided in April and May. But whatever happens, Griezmann will always get to celebrate a hat-trick on April 8. 'It's a day that will be forever etched in the family's memory, especially between brothers and sisters,' he said.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
France drops to third place in FIFA rankings
France drops to third place in FIFA rankings This Thursday FIFA updated their rankings following the conclusion of the March international break, which saw France secure their spot in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals. Despite this, Didier Deschamps' men have dropped from second to third spot in the global standings. A costly defeat to Croatia A key factor behind this drop was Les Bleus' 2-0 defeat to Croatia in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final clash. Meanwhile Spain capitalised on it as they secured a draw and a penalty shootout victory against the Netherlands in the same competition, which saw them overtake France into second place. La Roja now hold 1854.64 points, which is only 1.93 points ahead of Les Bleus. It marks the highest spot for Spain in the FIFA rankings since June 2014. Argentina continue to lead the rankings after victories over Uruguay and Brazil. Meanwhile, England hold onto fourth place after two wins against Albania and Latvia. GFFN | George Boxall
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
France teammates Kylian Mbappé and Mike Maignan clear the air
Kylian Mbappé (26) felt targetted by a rant by France team-mate Mike Maignan (29) during the September international break, according to L'Équipe. Following that international break, Mbappé has not featured, missing Les Bleus' last four games having not been selected by Didier Deschamps. Mbappé has now returned following his hiatus and there has been a clearing of the air with the France No.1. In the wake of a 3-1 defeat to Italy, Maignan let his feelings be known in the dressing room post-match, criticising the commitment and behaviour of some of France's star players, as revealed by . Whilst Kylian Mbappé was not named in person, the publication understands that Les Bleus' captain was indeed a target of the rant by the AC Milan goalkeeper, as were some of the other 'big stars' of the national team. Antoine Griezmann retired in the wake of that international break and Mbappé has since lifted the lid on that now infamous international break. 'That international break was difficult for both of us. We suffered a lot,' he said, referencing a 'lack of gratitude' and stating that he believed the pair had been 'designated guilty for things that they weren't guilty of,' the France captain told Le Parisien earlier this week. Maignan and Mbappé have now cleared the air, according to . The AC Milan goalkeeper explained to the Real Madrid forward that his message back in September was directed at the whole squad, as he felt the need to intervene. The pair are not very close, as per L'Équipe, however, they have a deep mutual respect and a shared ambition to win the FIFA World Cup in 2026. GFFN | Luke Entwistle
