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.
 | |||
| Nickname(s) | Les Bleuets (The Little Blues) Les Espoirs (The Hopes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | French Football Federation | ||
| Head coach | Thierry Henry | ||
| Most caps | Mickaël Landreau (46) | ||
| Top scorer | Odsonne Édouard (17) | ||
| |||
| 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) | ||
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
editThough, 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
editMedia coverage
editFrance's under-21 football friendlies and qualifying matches are broadcast by Direct 8.
Results and fixtures
edit- Legend
Win Draw Lose Fixture
2023
edit France| 25 March Friendly | England | 4–0 | France | Leicester, England |
| Report | Stadium: King Power Stadium Referee: Joey Kooij (Netherlands) |
Mexico| 16 June Friendly | France | 1–0 | Mexico | Grenoble, France |
| Report | Stadium: Stade des Alpes |
Italy| 22 June U21 Euro 2023 GS | France | 2–1 | Italy | Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| 21:45 EEST (UTC+3) |
| Report |
| Stadium: Cluj Arena Attendance: 11,286 Referee: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands) |
France| 25 June U21 Euro 2023 GS | Norway  | 0–1 | France | Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| 21:45 EEST (UTC+3) | Report |
| Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Attendance: 1,507 Referee: Donatas Rumšas (Lithuania) |
France| 28 June U21 Euro 2023 GS | Switzerland  | 1–4 | France | Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| 21:45 EEST (UTC+3) |
| Report | Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Attendance: 1,652 Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark) |
Ukraine| 2 July U21 Euro 2023 QF | France | 1–3 | Ukraine | Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| 22:00 EEST (UTC+3) |
| Report |
| Stadium: Cluj Arena Attendance: 6,281 Referee: João Pinheiro (Portugal) |
Denmark| 7 September Friendly | France | 4–1 | Denmark | Nancy, France |
| Report |
| Stadium: Stade Marcel Picot Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Jonathan Lardot (Belgium) |
France| 11 September 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification | Slovenia  | 0–4 | France | Koper, Slovenia |
| Report | Stadium: Bonifika Stadium Referee: Ondřej Berka (Czech Republic) |
France| 13 October 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification | Bosnia and Herzegovina  | 1–2 | France | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Report |
| Stadium: Stadion Grbavica Referee: Mohammed Al-Emara (Saudi Arabia) |
Cyprus| 17 October 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification | France | 9–0 | Cyprus | Grenoble, France |
| Report | Stadium: Stade des Alpes Referee: Miloš Bošković (Montenegro) |
France| 17 November 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification | Austria  | 2–0 | France | Ried im Innkreis, Austria |
| Report | Stadium: Josko Arena Referee: Robert Jones (England |
South Korea| 20 November Friendly | France | 0–3 | South Korea | Le Havre, France |
| Report | Stadium: Stade Océane Referee: Andrei Florin Chivulete (Romania) |
2024
edit Slovenia| 6 September 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification | France | v | Slovenia | TBD, France |
Bosnia and Herzegovina| 10 September 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification | France | v | Bosnia and Herzegovina | TBD, France |
France| 11 October 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification | Cyprus | v | France | TBD, Cyprus |
Austria| 15 October 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification | France | v | Austria | TBD, France |
Coaching staff
editCurrent coaching staff
edit- 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
editCurrent squad
editFor 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 match against Austria and for a friendly macth against South Korea on 17 and 20 November 2023, respectively.[3]
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped by the senior team.
Caps and goals as of 26 Mars 2024, after the team's match against 
Chile.
Recent call-ups
editThe 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 | 18 February 2003 | 0 | 0 | Dunkerque | v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023 |
| GK | Thimothée Lo-Tutala | 13 February 2003 | 0 | 0 | Hull City | v. Norway, 19 November 2022 |
| DF | Soungoutou Magassa | 8 October 2003 | 1 | 0 | Monaco | v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023 |
| DF | Maxime Estève | 26 May 2002 | 1 | 0 | Burnley | v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023 |
| DF | Bradley Locko | 6 May 2002 | 0 | 0 | Brest | v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023 |
| DF | Thierno Baldé | 10 June 2002 | 1 | 0 | Troyes | v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023 |
| DF | Tanguy Nianzou | 7 June 2002 | 1 | 1 |  Sevilla | v. Denmark, 7 September 2023 INJ |
| DF | Yoan Koré | 16 November 2004 | 0 | 0 | Paris FC | v. Spain, 28 March 2023 |
| MF | Warren Zaïre-Emery (captain) | 8 March 2006 | 4 | 0 | Paris Saint-Germain | v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023SEN |
| MF | Habib Diarra | 3 January 2004 | 3 | 0 | Strasbourg | v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023 |
| MF | Lucien Agoumé | 9 February 2002 | 2 | 0 | Sevilla | v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023 |
| MF | Andy Diouf | 17 May 2003 | 1 | 0 | Lens | v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023 |
| MF | Eduardo Camavinga | 10 November 2002 | 13 | 2 | Real Madrid | v. Ukraine, 9 June 2022 |
| FW | Désiré Doué | 3 June 2005 | 1 | 0 | Rennes | v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023 |
| FW | Sékou Mara | 30 July 2002 | 4 | 1 | Southampton | v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023 |
| FW | Wilson Odobert | 28 November 2004 | 1 | 0 | Burnley | v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023 |
| FW | Matthis Abline | 28 March 2003 | 4 | 1 | Nantes | v. Spain, 28 March 2023 |
| FW | Mohamed-Ali Cho | 19 January 2004 | 7 | 0 | Nice | v.  Germany, 23 September 2022 INJ |
| FW | Hugo Ekitike | 20 June 2002 | 0 | 0 | Paris Saint-Germain | v.  North Macedonia, 16 November 2021 |
| FW | Janis Antiste | 18 August 2002 | 1 | 0 | Reggiana | v.  Serbia, 12 October 2021 |
| FW | Nathanaël Mbuku | 16 March 2002 | 2 | 1 | Saint-Étienne | v.  Faroe Islands, 6 September 2021 |
| FW | Isaac Lihadji | 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 for personal reasons.
Previous squads
editHonours
edit- 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
editUEFA U-23 Championship
edit- 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
edit| Year | Result | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 1980 | 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 | 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 | 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.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "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
edit