France Page 3 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Iraq striker Aymen Hussein exits vs. France with apparent injury
PHILADELPHIA -- Iraq striker Aymen Hussein departed in the 26th minute of his side's Group I clash with France with an apparent injury Monday.,The nature of the injury was unclear. The substitution came during the first-half hydration break, with Ali Al-Hamadi entering the match for the veteran stri...
Kylian Mbappe, France aim to keep rolling while Iraq keep positive outlook
PHILADELPHIA -- Kylian Mbappe is still favored to eventually capture the World Cup career goals record. But as he heads into France's second World Cup group game against Iraq on Monday, part of the matter remains out of his control.,If there was any doubt of that, it was quashed resoundingly last Tu...
Kylian Mbappe: Ousmane Dembele 'essential' for France despite goalless opener
PHILADELPHIA -- After Kylian Mbappe re-watched France's 3-1 win over Senegal to open their World Cup, the 27-year-old rejected the idea that teammate Ousmane Dembele had a poor match.,"I saw the match twice, once on my own and once with people from the staff," Mbappe said through an interpreter ahea...
Iraq's Graham Arnold on facing France: Wish we could play 3 keepers
PHILADELPHIA -- Despite Iraq's 4-1 loss to Norway in their Group I opener last Tuesday, manager Graham Arnold says he has no plans to take a more conservative posture in Monday's second match against France.,"I've always been a coach that goes out expecting to win a game, not trying not to lose," sa...
Jeremy Doku's desire to take leave from Belgian team for baby draws critics
Jeremy Doku, a starting winger on Belgium's World Cup team, wants to be with his wife when she gives birth to their first child.,The only problem is that if Belgium make it out of group play and the knockout round, he would need to return to his country and potentially miss a key match. The expected...
Nearing World Cup goal mark, Kylian Mbappe's dominance on full display
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Kylian Mbappe entered the 2026 World Cup knowing another strong tournament could make him the competition's all-time leading goal scorer.,At this rate, the Real Madrid superstar may get there next week.,Mbappe bagged an explosive second-half brace in France's 3-1 victory ove...
Kylian Mbappe's brace leads France past Senegal
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Kylian Mbappe scored his 13th and 14th World Cup goals, both after halftime, to move within two of Miroslav Klose's all-time record as France survived an uneven first half to outclass Senegal 3-1 in both teams' World Cup opener on Tuesday.,Mbappe's brace also moved him to 58...
Spain, France open as World Cup favorites; USMNT popular longshot
The 2026 World Cup finally kicks off on Thursday with Spain and France as the clear pre-tournament favorites.,Spain, ranked second in the latest FIFA Men's World Rankings, are co-favorites at +450 by BetMGM along with third-ranked France. Spain are the book's third biggest liability and lead the way...
William Saliba plays in final friendly, on target for France's World Cup opener
William Saliba was deemed fit ahead of France's final friendly before the World Cup and would be set for full participation in the Group I opener June 16 against Senegal barring setbacks with his ailing back. ,Saliba, 25, had scans on his back last week to determine whether discomfort he flagged was...
William Saliba fit for final friendly, on target for France's World Cup opener
William Saliba was deemed fit ahead of France's final friendly before the World Cup and would be set for full participation in the Group I opener June 16 against Senegal barring setbacks with his ailing back. ,Saliba, 25, had scans on his back last week to determine whether discomfort he flagged was...
France's coach says William Saliba 'fine' ahead of World Cup
France coach Didier Deschamps said on Wednesday that Arsenal defender William Saliba is "fine" and could play a match tomorrow if needed.,The comments came two days after reports surfaced that Saliba's World Cup status was in doubt due to a back injury. ,Saliba, 25, played the full 120 minutes in Ar...
Report: France's William Saliba could miss World Cup
Arsenal defender William Saliba is "very doubtful" for France's World Cup opener due to a back injury, ESPN reported Monday.,The 25-year-old center-back will undergo scans Monday to determine the extent of his injury, but the fear is he could miss the entire tournament in North America, per the repo...
Mbappe leads France's World Cup roster; Camavinga, Chevalier left off
France's World Cup roster reveal on Thursday included a star-studded assortment of talent, with Real Madrid infielder Eduardo Camavinga arguably the most notable omission.,Currently No. 1 in the FIFA Men's World Ranking, France are one of the clear pre-tournament favorites with manager Didier Descha...
French striker Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) out of World Cup
French striker Hugo Ekitike likely will miss this summer's FIFA World Cup after reportedly tearing his Achilles tendon.,The Liverpool forward sustained the injury in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League quarterfinal loss to Paris Saint-Germain.,Ekitike, 23, collapsed to the ground in pain midway through t...
France passes Spain for No. 1 in FIFA world rankings; U.S. drops
France has overtaken Spain to regain the No. 1 spot in the FIFA world rankings for the first time since September 2018.,Impressive wins in friendlies last month against Brazil and Colombia moved France up two spots in the rankings released on Wednesday.,Spain dropped to No. 2 and defending FIFA Worl...
Kylian Mbappe: Knee is 100%, 'false things were said'
French striker Kylian Mbappe disputed reports about the severity of the left knee sprain that has limited his availability of late for Real Madrid.,"My knee is fine. It's getting better," he said at a promotional event in France on Monday. "It's going quite well, and I know there's been a lot of spe...
Report: Zinedine Zidane to take over as France coach this summer
French soccer icon Zinedine Zidane has agreed to take over his national team's head coaching duties following this summer's FIFA World Cup, ESPN reported Monday.,Zidane, 53, reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the Federation Francaise de Football to replace Didier Deschamps, who has held the ...
New French duo Fournier Beaudry, Cizeron lead after short dance
MILAN -- Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France continued one of figure skating's most compelling revivals on Monday night, winning the rhythm dance at the Milan Cortina Olympics in only their fifth international event.,The duo, who teamed up last March, kept up their breakneck sp...
France doesn't intend to boycott World Cup over Greenland issue
France's sports minister said she does not anticipate her country pulling out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup over President Donald Trump's threats amid Europe's support of an autonomous Greenland.,The World Cup largely will be played in the United States.,Trump has said he intends to assess France and s...
France doesn't intend to boycott World Cup over Greenland
France's sports minister said she does not anticipate her country pulling out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup -- largely being played in the United States this summer -- over President Donald Trump's threats toward France.,Trump has said he intends to assess France and seven other European nations with t...