France national under-21 football team
National youth football team.
The France national under-21 football team, known as Les Bleuets (The Little Blues) or Les Espoirs (The Hopes), represents France in international youth competitions and is managed by the French Football Federation. The team competes primarily in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which occurs every two years.
France has a rich history in this tournament, having won the championship once, in 1988. They have also finished as runners-up on several occasions, with their best performance since the championship's inception being a second-place finish in 2002. The team has qualified for the tournament 11 times since its first appearance in 1982.
Notable players who have represented the under-21 team include legends such as Laurent Blanc, Eric Cantona, and Franck Sauzée, many of whom went on to have illustrious careers with the senior national team. The team's most-capped player is Mickaël Landreau, with 46 appearances, while Odsonne Édouard holds the record for the most goals scored, with 17.
The current head coach is Gérald Baticle, and the team captain is Castello Lukeba. France's under-21 matches are played across various venues, particularly at Ligue 2 stadiums due to lower demand compared to senior matches. Recently, they have established a home base at Stade Auguste-Delaune II in Reims.
In terms of recent performances, France achieved a significant victory with a 9-0 win against Cyprus in October 2023, showcasing their strength at this level.