# France national under-21 football team

The France national under-21 football team (French: Equipe de France Espoirs), known in France as Les Espoirs (French pronunciation:, 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. Blanc was named the tournament's Golden Player. 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

### 2025
## 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 friendly matches against England and Slovakia on 21 and 24 March 2025, respectively.
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped by the senior team.
Caps and goals as of 19 November 2024, after the team's match against Germany.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Obed Nkambadio | (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Paris FC |
| 1GK | Ewen Jaouen | (2005-12-29) 29 December 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Dunkerque |
| 1GK | Robin Risser | (2004-12-02) 2 December 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Red Star |
| 2DF | Castello Lukeba | (2002-12-17) 17 December 2002 (age 22) | 20 | 0 | RB Leipzig |
| 2DF | Quentin Merlin | (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22) | 11 | 0 | Marseille |
| 2DF | Kiliann Sildillia | (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22) | 10 | 0 | SC Freiburg |
| 2DF | Chrislain Matsima | (2002-05-15) 15 May 2002 (age 22) | 7 | 1 | FC Augsburg |
| 2DF | Christian Mawissa | (2005-04-08) 8 April 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Monaco |
| 2DF | Jérémy Jacquet | (2005-07-13) 13 July 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Rennes |
| 3MF | Maghnes Akliouche | (2002-02-25) 25 February 2002 (age 23) | 10 | 3 | Monaco |
| 3MF | Johann Lepenant | (2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 (age 22) | 9 | 1 | Lyon |
| 3MF | Ismaël Doukouré | (2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 21) | 7 | 0 | Strasbourg |
| 3MF | Lucien Agoumé | (2002-02-09) 9 February 2002 (age 23) | 7 | 0 | Sevilla |
| 3MF | Andy Diouf | (2003-05-17) 17 May 2003 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | Lens |
| 3MF | Enzo Millot (captain) | (2002-07-17) 17 July 2002 (age 22) | 4 | 0 | VfB Stuttgart |
| 3MF | Ayyoub Bouaddi | (2007-10-02) 2 October 2007 (age 17) | 2 | 0 | Lille |
| 4FW | Arnaud Kalimuendo | (2002-01-20) 20 January 2002 (age 23) | 32 | 9 | Rennes |
| 4FW | Rayan Cherki | (2003-08-17) 17 August 2003 (age 21) | 22 | 12 | Lyon |
| 4FW | Mathys Tel | (2005-04-27) 27 April 2005 (age 19) | 8 | 3 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 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 | Wilson Odobert | (2004-11-28) 28 November 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 4FW | Thierno Barry | (2002-10-21) 21 October 2002 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Villarreal |

### 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 | Guillaume Restes | (2005-03-11) 11 March 2005 (age 20) | 10 | 0 | Toulouse | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| GK | Lucas Lavallée | (2003-02-18) 18 February 2003 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Paris Saint-Germain | v. Slovenia, 11 September 2023 |
| GK | Thimothée Lo-Tutala | (2003-02-13) 13 February 2003 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Hull City | v. Norway, 19 November 2022 |
| DF | Soungoutou Magassa | (2003-10-08) 8 October 2003 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | Monaco | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| DF | Kassoum Ouattara | (2004-10-14) 14 October 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Monaco | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| DF | Nathan Zézé | (2005-06-18) 18 June 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Nantes | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| DF | Saël Kumbedi | (2005-03-26) 26 March 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Lyon | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| DF | Étienne Youte Kinkoue | (2002-01-14) 14 January 2002 (age 23) | 1 | 0 | Le Havre | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| DF | Malo Gusto | (2003-05-19) 19 May 2003 (age 21) | 10 | 1 | Chelsea | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 $^{INJ}$ |
| DF | Jeanuël Belocian | (2005-02-17) 17 February 2005 (age 20) | 5 | 0 | Bayer Leverkusen | v. Austria, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Tanguy Nianzou | (2002-06-07) 7 June 2002 (age 22) | 3 | 2 | Sevilla | v. Austria, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Maxime Estève | (2002-05-26) 26 May 2002 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | Burnley | v. Austria, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Leny Yoro | (2005-11-13) 13 November 2005 (age 19) | 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 20) | 0 | 0 | Paris FC | v. Spain, 28 March 2023 |
| MF | Valentin Atangana | (2005-08-25) 25 August 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 1 | Reims | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| 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 | Roma | v. South Korea, 20 November 2023 |
| MF | Warren Zaïre-Emery | (2006-03-08) 8 March 2006 (age 19) | 4 | 0 | Paris Saint-Germain | v. Cyprus, 17 October 2023 $^{SEN}$ |
| MF | Eduardo Camavinga | (2002-11-10) 10 November 2002 (age 22) | 13 | 2 | Real Madrid | v. Ukraine, 9 June 2022 |
| FW | Désiré Doué | (2005-06-03) 3 June 2005 (age 19) | 4 | 1 | Paris Saint-Germain | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| FW | Loum Tchaouna | (2003-09-08) 8 September 2003 (age 21) | 4 | 1 | Lazio | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| FW | Ange-Yoan Bonny | (2003-10-25) 25 October 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Parma | v. Italy, 15 November 2024 |
| FW | Alan Virginius | (2003-01-03) 3 January 2003 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Young Boys | v. Austria, 15 October 2024 |
| 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 21) | 8 | 0 | Nice | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10 September 2024 |
| 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 22) | 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 23) | 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
## 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 | Did not qualify | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 7 |
| 2011 | Did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 6 |
| 2013 | Did not qualify | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 7 |
| 2015 | Did not qualify | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 11 |
| 2017 | Did not qualify | 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 |
| 2025 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| 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.