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	Gérald Baticle
Captain	Castello Lukeba
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

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 (Finland)

17 October 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	France	9–0	Cyprus	Grenoble, France
	Antoniou 13' (o.g.) Kalimuendo 30' (pen.), 45' Akliouche 39' Matsima 57' Cherki 65', 80' Tel 69', 90+3'	Report		Stadium: Stade des Alpes Referee: Miloš Bošković (Montenegro)

17 November 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	Austria	2–0	France	Ried im Innkreis, Austria
	Koller 25', 75'	Report		Stadium: Josko Arena Referee: Robert Jones (England

20 November Friendly	France	0–3	South Korea	Le Havre, France
		Report	Jeong 70', 79' Hong 90+4'	Stadium: Stade Océane Referee: Andrei Florin Chivulete (Romania)

2024

6 September 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	France	1–1	Slovenia	Troyes, France
	Doué 54'	Report	Cipot 37'	Stadium: Stade de l'Aube Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero (Spain)

10 September 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	France	2–0	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Le Mans, France
	Akliouche 35' Ekitike 57' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Stade Marie-Marvingt Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili (Georgia)

11 October 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	Cyprus	0–3	France	Achna, Cyprus
		Report	Ekitike 28' Akliouche 68' Nianzou 89'	Stadium: Dasaki Stadium Referee: Ion Orlic (Moldova)

15 October 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification	France	1–2	Austria	Nancy, France
	Kalimuendo 87'	Report	Hedl 59' Ballo 74'	Stadium: Stade Marcel Picot Referee: Mihály Káprály (Hungary)

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 21 August 2024

Position	Name	Nationality
Head coach	Gérald Baticle	French
Assistant coach	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 matches against Cyprus and Austria on 11 and 15 October 2024, respectively.^[3]

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

Caps and goals as of 15 October 2024, after the team's match against Austria.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Guillaume Restes	(2005-03-11) 11 March 2005 (age 19)	9	0	Toulouse
1GK	Obed Nkambadio	(2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Paris FC
1GK	Robin Risser	(2004-12-02) 2 December 2004 (age 19)	0	0	Strasbourg

2DF	Castello Lukeba	(2002-12-17) 17 December 2002 (age 21)	20	0	RB Leipzig
2DF	Malo Gusto	(2003-05-19) 19 May 2003 (age 21)	10	1	Chelsea
2DF	Kiliann Sildillia	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22)	8	0	SC Freiburg
2DF	Chrislain Matsima	(2002-05-15) 15 May 2002 (age 22)	5	1	FC Augsburg
2DF	Jeanuël Belocian	(2005-02-17) 17 February 2005 (age 19)	5	0	Bayer Leverkusen
2DF	Tanguy Nianzou	(2002-06-07) 7 June 2002 (age 22)	3	2	Sevilla
2DF	Maxime Estève	(2002-05-26) 26 May 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Burnley
2DF	Kassoum Ouattara	(2004-10-14) 14 October 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Monaco

3MF	Maghnes Akliouche	(2002-02-25) 25 February 2002 (age 22)	10	3	Monaco
3MF	Johann Lepenant	(2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 (age 22)	9	1	Lyon
3MF	Lucien Agoumé	(2002-02-09) 9 February 2002 (age 22)	5	0	Sevilla
2DF	Ismaël Doukouré	(2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 21)	5	0	Strasbourg
3MF	Enzo Millot (captain)	(2002-07-17) 17 July 2002 (age 22)	4	0	VfB Stuttgart
3MF	Andy Diouf	(2003-05-17) 17 May 2003 (age 21)	3	0	Lens

4FW	Arnaud Kalimuendo	(2002-01-20) 20 January 2002 (age 22)	30	9	Rennes
4FW	Dilane Bakwa	(2002-08-26) 26 August 2002 (age 22)	4	0	Strasbourg
4FW	Hugo Ekitike	(2002-06-20) 20 June 2002 (age 22)	3	2	Eintracht Frankfurt
4FW	Loum Tchaouna	(2003-09-08) 8 September 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Lazio
4FW	Alan Virginius	(2003-01-03) 3 January 2003 (age 21)	1	0	Young Boys

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 (age 21)	0	0	Paris Saint-Germain	v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023
GK	Thimothée Lo-Tutala	(2003-02-13) 13 February 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Hull City	v. Norway, 19 November 2022

DF	Quentin Merlin	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22)	11	0	Marseille	v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10 September 2024
DF	Soungoutou Magassa	(2003-10-08) 8 October 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Monaco	v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10 September 2024
DF	Nathan Zézé	(2005-06-18) 18 June 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Nantes	v. Slovenia, 6 September 2024 ^INJ
DF	Leny Yoro	(2005-11-13) 13 November 2005 (age 18)	4	0	Manchester United	v. South Korea, 20 November 2023
DF	Isaak Touré	(2003-03-28) 28 March 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Udinese	v. South Korea, 20 November 2023
DF	Bradley Locko	(2002-05-06) 6 May 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Brest	v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023
DF	Thierno Baldé	(2002-06-10) 10 June 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Troyes	v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023
DF	Yoan Koré	(2004-11-16) 16 November 2004 (age 19)	0	0	Paris FC	v. Spain, 28 March 2023

MF	Lesley Ugochukwu	(2004-03-26) 26 March 2004 (age 20)	5	0	Southampton	v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10 September 2024
MF	Lucas Gourna-Douath	(2003-08-05) 5 August 2003 (age 21)	2	0	Red Bull Salzburg	v. South Korea, 20 November 2023
MF	Warren Zaïre-Emery	(2006-03-08) 8 March 2006 (age 18)	4	0	Paris Saint-Germain	v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023 ^SEN
MF	Habib Diarra	(2004-01-03) 3 January 2004 (age 20)	3	0	Strasbourg	v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023
MF	Eduardo Camavinga	(2002-11-10) 10 November 2002 (age 21)	13	2	Real Madrid	v. Ukraine, 9 June 2022

FW	Georginio Rutter	(2002-04-20) 20 April 2002 (age 22)	6	0	Brighton & Hove Albion	v. Cyprus, 11 October 2024 ^INJ
FW	Mohamed-Ali Cho	(2004-01-19) 19 January 2004 (age 20)	8	0	Nice	v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10 September 2024
FW	Mathys Tel	(2005-04-27) 27 April 2005 (age 19)	5	2	Bayern Munich	v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10 September 2024
FW	Wilson Odobert	(2004-11-28) 28 November 2004 (age 19)	3	0	Tottenham Hotspur	v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10 September 2024
FW	Désiré Doué	(2005-06-03) 3 June 2005 (age 19)	2	1	Paris Saint-Germain	v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10 September 2024
FW	Rayan Cherki	(2003-08-17) 17 August 2003 (age 21)	19	11	Lyon	v. South Korea, 20 November 2023
FW	Bradley Barcola	(2002-09-02) 2 September 2002 (age 22)	12	4	Paris Saint-Germain	v. South Korea, 20 November 2023
FW	Elye Wahi	(2003-01-02) 2 January 2003 (age 21)	12	3	Lens	v. South Korea, 20 November 2023
FW	Sékou Mara	(2002-07-30) 30 July 2002 (age 22)	4	1	Southampton	v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023
FW	Matthis Abline	(2003-03-28) 28 March 2003 (age 21)	4	1	Nantes	v. Spain, 28 March 2023
FW	Janis Antiste	(2002-08-18) 18 August 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Reggiana	v. Serbia, 12 October 2021
FW	Nathanaël Mbuku	(2002-03-16) 16 March 2002 (age 22)	2	1	Saint-Étienne	v. Faroe Islands, 6 September 2021
FW	Isaac Lihadji	(2002-04-10) 10 April 2002 (age 22)	2	1	Al-Arabi	v. Switzerland, 16 November 2020

Notes

Players in italics have played at senior level.
^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

[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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