Page 21 - France

Euro 2020: France looks to forwards, Swiss aim to end knockout drought

Winning the toughest group at the European Championship wasn't really a big surprise for the World Cup champions. Winning only one match in that group was, though. Regardless, it was still enough for France to finish first in Group F and set up a match against Switzerland on Monday in the round of 16. "A new competition is starting," France coach Didier Deschamps said. With Kylian Mbapp, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema, Deschamps has enough attacking power to deliver back-to-back major titles, something that would match the country's achievement in 1998 and 2000. Benzema and Mbapp swap quick passes and switch positions high up the field, with the quick-thinking and skilful Griezmann operating behind them. But none of them were able to score in the opening 1-0 win over Germany, a match decided by Mats Hummels' own-goal. Griezmann did get on the scoreboard in the 1-1 draw against Hungary, while Benzema scored both in the 2-2 draw against Portugal after rejoining the national squ

Ronaldo inspires every celebrity to be an 'undorser'

The Ronaldo episode is not likely to be the last, as many more celebrities may now want to make visible statements in support of causes close to their hearts

Portugal tie France, both through to Euro 2020 knockouts

France and defending champions Portugal both qualified for the round-of-16 at the Euro 2020 after they played out a 2-2 draw in a thrilling match that saw three penalties given and scored.

Strikers search for goals, wing backs shine at Euro 2020

Kylian Mbapp scored the most goals in France last season, and Harry Kane did likewise in the Premier League. It's not just the fact that neither Paris Saint-Germain nor Tottenham won their leagues that links them. Nor the fact that both strikers are being talked about for transfers to new clubs after the European Championship. Although prolific for their clubs Mbapp with 27 league goals and Kane with 23 neither has managed to replicate their domestic scoring output at the European Championship. Kane managed only one shot on target in the three games for England. Mbapp had three for France. But neither striker found the back of the net. I think it's the world of a big player, England coach Gareth Southgate said, discussing Kane. Inevitably he's come through those periods and scored important goals for us and played exceptionally well. So it's a bit of a repetitive cycle. Perhaps it's a reflection of the toll of more gruelling pandemic-congested seasons on players' bodies. France

To bolster security, Britain joins Indian Ocean monitoring hub in Gurgaon

The IFC-IOR, which was established in April 2019, has liaison officers from five countries - the US, France, Japan, Australia and now the UK

France's showdown against Portugal at Euro 2020 lacks punch

France advanced without kicking a ball, and Portugal can move on as well even with a loss on Wednesday. Hardly the heavyweight showdown many had hoped for in a match pitting defending champion Portugal against World Cup champion France, and Cristiano Ronaldo against Kylian Mbappe. Results on Tuesday guaranteed France a spot in the round of 16. A one-goal loss for Portugal should be enough as long as Hungary doesn't win in Germany in Group F's other game. Still, that's unlikely to alter France coach Didier Deschamps' way of thinking, and he is thinking only of first place. "We still hold the cards, Deschamps said. If we win then we'll finish first." The winner of Group F will play one of the third-place finishers. Portugal can still win the group by beating France, but it depends on what happens in Munich in the match between Germany and Hungary. Germany and Portugal have three points and the same goal difference, while Hungary is last with one point and must win to advance. Por

France's Sarkozy faces jail term in campaign financing trial

The trial of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy concludes Tuesday in Paris.

Euro 2020: France forward Ousmane Dembele ruled out with injury

France forward Ousmane Dembele has been ruled out of the ongoing Euro 2020 with an injury he picked up in the draw against Hungary, the French Football Federation(FFF) confirmed on Monday.The FC Barcelona forward came on as a second-half substitute at the Puskas Arena, when France was trailing against Hungary in the Group F clash, but he had to be replaced by Thomas Lemar in the 87th minute as he limped off with an apparent knee injury."Ousmane Dembele had an X-ray at the Budapest hospital on Sunday night," the French Football Federation(FFF) said in an official statement."The recovery time is incompatible with him staying in the squad. After discussing with the player and (team doctor) Franck le Gall, (coach) Didier Deschamps has acknowledged that Ousmane Dembele is ruled out for the rest of the tournament."France head coach, Didier Deschamps earlier confirmed in the press conference that it was a tendon issue in Dembele's knee. On Saturday after the game, Deschamps said, "Dembele, ..

Karim Benzema's return speeds up France's attack at Euro 2020

Karim Benzema's return speeds up France's attack and has taken some pressure off the defense. The French team will be going for a fourth consecutive clean sheet with Benzema playing when it faces Hungary in Budapest on Saturday at the European Championship. A win will put France into the next round after it opened with a 1-0 victory over Germany. Hungary lost to Portugal 3-0. Les Bleus look sharper with Benzema, who has slotted in effortlessly since returning to the national team after nearly six years out following a fallout with coach Didier Deschamps amid a sex tape scandal. He has replaced Olivier Giroud, who plays more with his back to goal. Benzema's technique and reading of the game help him click with Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann. The trio are working for and with each other, forming a marauding front unit that stops opposing teams from passing out quickly from the back. Their efforts take strain off the midfield and, ultimately, the defense. "When you see Kylian .

UEFA reminds teams of sponsorship obligations after Cristiano Ronaldo case

Ronaldo moved Coca-Cola bottles aside as he sat down to speak to the media on the eve of Tuesday's Group F opener against Hungary in Budapest, which Portugal won 3-0

Euro Cup 2021 highlights: Wales beats Turkey 2-0; qualify for pre-quarters

Wales qualify for pre-quarter finals with four points in Group A. Check Euro Cup's match schedule on Jun 16 (Indian time), match timings, live streaming, telecast details

Venus Remedies wins legal battle against French firm for paracetamol patent

The Indian drug firm had initiated the legal battle in order to remove any patent hurdle in manufacturing of intravenous paracetamol solution in the country.

Euros championship 'Bottlegate' spreads from Coca-Cola to Heineken

Manchester United's Paul Pogba on Tuesday moved a bottle of non-alcoholic Heineken NV beer out of sight when giving a press conference at the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, where he's representing France

Germany's Rudiger regrets putting mouth on Pogba's back at Euro 2020

Holding France midfielder Paul Pogba from behind, Germany defender Antonio Rudiger appeared to open his mouth and lightly bite his opponent's back.

Hummels own-goal gives France 1-0 win over Germany at Euro 2020

Mats Hummels' return to the national team went better for France than it did for Germany

Ikea fined $1.2 million over spying campaign in France, says report

Unit's former CEO gets a two-year suspended jail sentence

France and Germany in rare early meeting at Euro 2020

France and Germany usually play each other in the latter stages of major soccer tournaments. Not this time. The teams will meet in the group stage of a European Championship or World Cup for the first time on Tuesday when they open their Euro 2020 campaigns in Munich. Their last match at a major tournament came in the Euro 2016 semifinals. Antoine Griezmann scored twice for France in the 2-0 victory over then-World Cup champion Germany in Marseille. Germany has never really recovered, and though the French lost to Portugal in the final five years ago, they went on to win the World Cup two years later. Remarkably, no player in Germany's current squad has ever scored in a European Championship match. Thomas Mller, who has played 11 tournament games, missed a penalty in the 2016 quarterfinal shootout win over Italy. German hopes this time are pinned on a good start in Munich to set the team up for success in Joachim Lw's last tournament as coach after 15 years in charge. Germany wi

Hungary hosts defending champion Portugal at Euro 2020

Home advantage at the European Championship may not count for much when Hungary faces a Portugal team with scoring talent and one particular player looking to make history. Cristiano Ronaldo needs six more goals to become the all-time leading scorer for a men's national team. If the defending champions go far at Euro 2020, Ronaldo could indeed break Iran striker Ali Daei's record of 109 goals. And he'll get his first chance to add to his total on Tuesday against the Hungarians at the Puskas Arena. Portugal beat France 1-0 in the Euro 2016 final in extra time after losing Ronaldo to injury. He hobbled off injured midway through the first half. Besides Ronaldo, the team has scoring threats in standout midfielder Bruno Fernandes, winger Bernardo Silva and forward Diogo Jota. Fernandes had a superb season at Manchester United, earning the Premier League's Player of the Month award four times in his second season. He finished in the Premier League's Team of the Year and scored 28 goals

Feud between Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud escalates at Euro 2020

A brewing feud between France strikers Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud has gone public, potentially threatening team unity ahead of the opening match against Germany at the European Championship

India gets wide support on TRIPS waiver for Covid-19 vaccines at G-7 meet

Cyberspace should not be a venue for subverting democratic values: PM