FRANCE TOP GROUP A WC QUALIFIERS’

An incredible long-range strike from Paul Pogba led France to a 1-0 win over Netherlands in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Amsterdam.


Pogba’s accurate shot, which appeared too hot for goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to handle, was the telling blow in a clash between the two tough countries in Group A, leaving the hosts with the first World Cup qualifying loss since 2001.

France have now recorded three straight wins over the Dutch for the first time in their history.

“Paul is capable of and must perform better” Deschamps said after Pogba’s last international outing which he absolutely delivered for the team with his accurately launched rocket-kick. Laurent Koscielny took a square ball from Dimitri Payet while Pogba received the ball from him and aimed for the target under a little pressure.

The kick had a lot of power, Stekelenburg couldn’t handle the ball as it slipped beyond him while he dived to his right. The Everton goalkeeper had been stronger when keeping out Kevin Gameiro’s stinging drive in the early exchanges, as France consistently caused Netherlands problems on the counter.

Netherlands without the sidelined Wesley Sneijder, had their attacking options reduced especially when the injured Quincy Promes had to be substituted after just 15 minutes of playing. more

Didier Deschamps announce his team for the Euros

French coach Didier Deschamps has announced his squad for the Euros 2016 that will be taking place in France itself.

Among the notable absentees, we have Karim Benzema, who is suspended from the team after a blackmail scandal and Ben Arfa.

In fact, the biggest surprise is the absence of Hatem Ben Arfa, who has been quite prolific with Nice this season. Indeed, ever since he moved from Newcastle back to France, Ben Arfa has been scoring goals one after the another, and many would have thought that he would be in the team for the Euros. He is only named in the reserve side, and there will need to be an injury in the current squad for him to get a place at the Euros.

Didier Deschamps has argued that he has chosen not only the best players but also players that can play together. He said that he had chosen Olivier Giroud because he had scored 25 goals in all competition this season and the same thing goes for Griezmann. He believes that the forward players he has selected can play together and can help France go far in the tournament. Among the other forward players that have been selected by Didier Deschamps, we have Anthony Martial, Dimitri Payet, Kingsley Coman and Andre-Pierre Gignac. more

FRANCE ARE TOP FAVOURITES TO WIN EURO 2016

Les Blues are currently one of the most in form team in Europe with just few months to the European championships billed for June this year. Les blues are currently top favorites to win the trophy on home soil.

Christian Karembeu, France legend and World Cup winner, is also among those that believe the current French national team can end the 16-year wait for a major trophy by backing the composition of the national team under the guidance of veteran boss Didier Deschamps.


Karembeu said: “Didier Deschamps is building a new team with new ideas and we did well in the last world cup (2014) so I think we can see a strong national team in Euros.”

He then added: “we know we have potential and talent but, at home we also have our fans and they will push the team to perform and maybe even win it.”

Talking about talent and potential the French national team has a fine blend of both youth and experience with the likes of Antoine Griezman, Kinsley Coeman, Raphael Varane and Dimitri Payet in top form for their various clubs ahead of the championships. Veteran players like Patrice Evra and captain Hugo Illoris can provide the needed on field guidance and direction that is needed in huge competitions like the Euro. more

Didier Deschamps got Contract Extension

The French Football Federation has agreed to offer Didier Deschamps with a contract extension that will see the coach remain in charge of the national side at least until the end of the 2018 World Cup.

Didier Deschamps managed to push the French team to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup which has been their best finish in that competition since 2010 and it was impressive enough for him to receive a contract extension, this is good news for the French national squad which has been facing so much criticism in the past few years.

However, not everything is good news as there has been a string of negative news and rumors emerging concerning the upcoming 2016 Euro’s which is going to be hosted in France.

Earlier in January of the current year, a shooting took place on Paris involving 2 brothers who made their way into the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and killed 11 people in an incident that the Islamist Terrorist group Al-Qaueda branch in Yemen took responsibility for.

This incident has caused a huge impact not only in France but in the entire world as more activities of this nature have been occurring. Meanwhile in Paris, a number of restrictions has originated involving the filming of action movies in Paris but it has also caused a wave of things in the world of football. more