#antoine-griezmann

#antoine-griezmann

On 27 March 2021, the Republic of Ireland fell to a 1-0 defeat at home in a qualifier for a major tournament.On 27 March 2023, they endured the exact same fate, only this time the result attracted more upbeat appraisals of the team's trajectory.Two years ago, disbelief and embarrassment hit the Republic like a hammer as Luxembourg pulled off a major upset in Dublin.

Kylian Mbappe is determined to prevent teenager Evan Ferguson from adding another chapter to his football fairytale as France face the Republic of Ireland in a Euro 2024 qualifier.Mbappe scored two goals in Friday's of the Netherlands and will captain the French in Dublin on Monday.Ferguson was on target as the Republic beat Latvia 3-2 in a friendly last week on his first senior start.

Kylian Mbappe is determined to prevent teenager Evan Ferguson from adding another chapter to his football fairytale as France and the Republic of Ireland head into Euro 2024 battle.The 24-year-old Paris St Germain superstar will captain Didier Deschamps' side in Dublin on Monday evening having scored two goals in Friday's 4-0 rout of the Netherlands to go with the three he scored in the World Cup final in December.

A lot of people want Josh Cavallo dead.Not that you'd know it from the way the 23-year-old carries himself.It's been 17 months since the Adelaide United midfielder became - at the time - the world's only top-flight male professional footballer to come out as gay - and since then, his social media accounts have been a beacon of positivity.

Stephen Kenny has challenged the Republic of Ireland to meet France with "fire and ice" if they are to avoid a "slow death" in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium.Ireland face the beaten World Cup finalists, who opened their campaign with a 4-0 win over the Netherlands, in Dublin on Monday.

Ronald Koeman unsurprisingly said he expected more from his Netherlands team after they were beaten 4-0 by France in his first game back as head coach.Koeman replaced Louis van Gaal to begin his second stint as Oranje boss, and will have been as surprised as anyone to see his team go 2-0 down after just eight minutes in the Stade de France, and 3-0 down after 21 minutes.

Man United are considering making a move to sign Antoine Griezmann.Manchester United have one gaping hole within their squad as Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer here.The Portugal international, albeit not even close to his brilliant best come the end of his time at Old Trafford, leaves a void within the United dressing room.

For Antoine Griezmann, the first few months of this season drifted uncomfortably close to indignity.His status at Atletico Madrid, it seemed, had diminished to the extent that he was a mere curiosity, one of the most celebrated forwards of his era reduced to something between a meme and a punchline.

DOHA, Qatar  Yerba mate is not, to be fair, for everyone.A strong and often bitter herbal infusion brewed hot or cold from the leaves of a plant native to South America, yerba mate is popular in Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina.Some of the best soccer players in the world hail from that region and swear by it, and they have spread it around the world through their club teams.

New France captain Kylian Mbappe lived up to expectations with two goals in a 4-0 statement home win against the Netherlands as Les Bleus got their Euro 2024 Group B qualifying campaign started in ruthless fashion on Friday.Mbappe, named skipper after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris ended his international career in January, set up Antoine Griezmann for the opener before scoring the third, after Dayot Upamecano had doubled the tally in a first-half blitz, before wrapping the scoring up late in front of an ecstatic crowd.

It's Lionel Messi's day, it's Lionel Messi's World Cup, but for more than a moment it looked to have been Kylian Mbappe's.There is no debate that the Lusail Stadium has staged the greatest World Cup final in history and while its outcome was determined and decided by its biggest names it was a match where its momentum and and very spirit was shaken and influenced by so much more.

France's quest to repeat as champion reached a climactic stage today when Les Bleus nipped Morocco, 2-0, on goals by Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani to advance to the World Cup final.In denying Morocco, the tournament darling, an implausible berth in the final match, France became the first nation in more than two decades to qualify for consecutive finals.

A repeat of the 2018 World Cup final, a glorious finale for Lionel Messi or a first African finalist all remain possible ahead of this week's World Cup semi-finals.Here, the PA news agency looks at the key statistics as Argentina take on Croatia and France face surprise package Morocco.Argentina v Croatia The two teams who have spent most time on the pitch in the tournament meet in Lusail on Tuesday evening.

5:00 AM ET



Julien LaurensCorrespondent



LUSAIL, Qatar -- After a World Cup where everything went pretty much according to plan until the final, France's players experienced the biggest rollercoaster of emotions on Sunday against Argentina and Lionel Messi.Down 2-0 in the first half, then up after Kylian Mbappe's two-minute brace levelled the scores late on; down to a Messi goal in extra time, but up again as Mbappe levelled once more with two minutes remaining.

Argentina and France go toe to toe on Sunday seeking World Cup glory.Ahead of the Lusail Stadium final, the PA news agency takes a look at five of the main talking points.Will Messi crown career with glory?Lionel Messi will become the record appearance maker in World Cup history on Sunday when he plays his 26th and final match on this stage.

Antoine Griezmann says playing Lionel Messi is a totally different proposition to anything else they have faced in Qatar as France gear up for a World Cup title defence against Argentina.Four and a half years on from beating Croatia to win their second world title, Didier Deschamps' side are reaching another final by seeing off spirited Morocco in a breathless semi-final clash on Wednesday.

6:15 PM ET



James OlleySenior Writer, ESPN FC



AL KHOR, Qatar -- Didier Deschamps has revealed France are taking precautions to stop a virus spreading through the squad before the World Cup final against Argentina.Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot were unavailable for Tuesday's 2-0 semifinal win over Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium after suffering with sickness in recent days.

Raphael Varane insists France will not fall into the trap of simply thinking a place in the World Cup final is theirs for the taking.The defending champions are just two victories away from becoming the first side to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962 after reaching the semi-finals with a hard-fought win over England on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur 's Harry Kane had the chance to level the match at 2-2 in the second half of England's 2-1 defeat to France in the World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar, but skied his effort well over Hugo Lloris's crossbar.He had converted a spot-kick earlier in the match (54th minute) to level the match at 1-1, but he couldn't convert the chance that was served on a silver platter after Theo Hernandez clattered needlessly into the back of Mason Mount in the box in the 81st minute, just two minutes after Olivier Giroud made it 2-1 to France with his near post header to finish off a beautiful cross from Antoine Griezmann.