Another last-eight exit for France has players wondering when their turn will come
France had won 11 in a row before they kicked off against Germany on Saturday, but wilted against the eight-times European champions - despite having 11 players to Germany's 10 for most of the game - losing 6-5 in a penalty shootout.
"We're wondering when it's going to be smiling for us at last," said Grace Geyoro.
Geyoro put France ahead with a 14th-minute penalty in a game that ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Les Bleues have now been eliminated in the quarter-finals in seven of the past nine World Cups or Euros. They were also eliminated in the quarters in their last two Olympic appearances, in 2016 and 2024.
Germany swept them aside in the 2022 Euro semi-finals.
"I don't think we have a psychological problem," said France coach Laurent Bonadei. "We have opponents of quality, and it gets harder and harder.
"But I think my players gave us hope; Rome wasn't built in a day."
Bonadei, who was hired in August 2024, drew criticism when he left veteran centre-back Wendie Renard and France's all-time leading goalscorer Eugénie Le Sommer off his Euro 2025 squad in favour of younger players.
Bonadei quoted Einstein in his decision at the time, saying: "'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.' I want different results for this team so I have gone with a different selection.
"It's something I've been thinking about since the start of the season."
France defender Sakina Karchaoui called the early exit "totally frustrating."
"We had so much faith in this group, in what we've built up and so on," she said. "But we don't have to throw it all away; on the contrary, you have to take a lot of positive things from it. And one day it will pass, we know that."
Bonadei pointed out after Saturday's loss that France will clash with Germany again in October in a two-legged Nations League semi-final.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
8 minutes ago
- CNA
Mercedes aiming to keep Russell and Antonelli next season
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are Mercedes' first choice for next season, team boss Toto Wolff said in comments appearing to rule out an immediate move for Red Bull's four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen is third overall at the midpoint of the 24-round campaign, 69 points behind McLaren's overall leader Oscar Piastri and 61 adrift of the Australian's British teammate Lando Norris. The Dutch driver's dream of a fifth successive title is disappearing and, with a new engine era starting in 2026 and the Mercedes power unit expected to be the pick of the field, there has been talk of Verstappen switching. That speculation was put in even sharper focus after Red Bull sacked long-serving team boss Christian Horner this month, with Laurent Mekies in charge at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. Russell's contract expires at the end of the season, although he is also managed by Mercedes, while 18-year-old rookie Antonelli only joined this year and is a big talent for the future. "The direction of travel is that we want to continue with George and Kimi. That is the first priority," Wolff told Austria's ORF television on Wednesday. "You can't look past someone like Max and the plans he has for the future. We did that, but I don't think there will be any big surprises." ORF said that while Verstappen had performance clauses, he would have needed to be outside the top three after Silverstone to trigger his contract release. Social media lit up this month after Wolff and Verstappen were reported to be on vacation at the same time and in the same area of Sardinia, but the Mercedes boss dismissed any significance in that. "If you go on holiday close to each other, it doesn't mean that you are also going to work together in Formula One," he said.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Forward Ekitike joins Liverpool from Frankfurt
Liverpool have signed French striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, the Premier League side announced on Wednesday, with media reports saying the deal was worth 69 million pounds ($93.65 million) plus add-ons. Ekitike is Liverpool's second-most expensive recruit in the close season after the Premier League champions signed Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz, who can also play as winger or forward, in June for a club-record 100 million pounds plus add-ons. "The 23-year-old has successfully completed a medical and agreed personal terms with the Reds, allowing him to fly out to Hong Kong to join his new teammates on their pre-season tour of Asia later this week," Liverpool said in a statement. Former Paris St Germain player Ekitike had a breakout campaign in 2024-25, scoring 15 Bundesliga goals in 33 appearances. He also struck four times as Frankfurt reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Ekitike, who made his senior debut at Stade de Reims, joined PSG on loan in 2022, making 25 Ligue 1 appearances as they won the French top-flight. He went on loan to Frankfurt in 2023, before making the move permanent a year later. "It's a strong story for him and Eintracht Frankfurt that he's moving to one of Europe's top teams with the greatest ambitions and opportunities," Frankfurt Sporting Director Markus Kroesche said in a statement. "Hugo has earned this move, and it shows that we are capable of offering players a great prospect." Liverpool begin their Premier League title defence at home against Bournemouth on August 15. ($1 = 0.7368 pounds)
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
'It feels like home': Rashford joins Barcelona on loan from Man United
England forward Marcus Rashford said Barcelona was a club where "dreams come true" as he joined the LaLiga champions on Wednesday on a season-long loan from Manchester United with an option to buy. Media reports said that Barcelona would cover Rashford's wages this season after the player accepted a pay cut, with the option to buy set at around 30 million euros ($35.25 million) for the 27-year-old. "Very excited. I think it's a club where people's dreams come true. They win big prizes. And what the club stands for really means a lot to me as well. So it feels like I am at home," Rashford told reporters following his unveiling. "Another factor is because the conversations I had with the manager (Hansi Flick) were positive. What he did last season was terrific. "To lead such a young team to a very successful season and come back to pre-season and still want to do more, it shows me everything I thought I knew about the club and it's everything I wished." Once seen as a club icon and homegrown star, Rashford had a dramatic fall from grace at United, marked by a falling out with manager Ruben Amorim that paved the way for him to move to Aston Villa on loan in February. "(Manchester United) is in a period of change and they have been for a while. I don't have anything bad to say as it has been an important part not just of my career but my life, so I was grateful for the opportunity," he added. "But like life not everything goes as simple as you thought and this is my next chapter and I'm fully focused on improving myself and helping the team win trophies." Barcelona said Rashford had signed his contract earlier in the afternoon. "Rashford can play anywhere in attack. Right footed, he can take players on and is an excellent finisher, talents he can now show in a Barca shirt," the club said in a statement. The move came after Manchester-born Rashford, who made 426 senior appearances and scored 138 goals for United in all competitions, fell out of favour with Amorim, who called his workrate into question. Rashford, who won two FA Cups, two League Cups and a Europa League title with United, joined Aston Villa on loan after Amorim said he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all. United issued a statement wishing Rashford well as they announced the deal with Barcelona. "Everyone at Manchester United wishes Marcus good luck for the season," the club said. The forward, who has scored 17 goals for England in 62 appearances, said he was feeling fitter and better after joining Villa, where he netted two goals in 10 league games, while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings. Rashford said he had wanted to move to Barca during the mid-season transfer window when he joined Villa. "I was clear on my preference (to join Barcelona) from the beginning. Actually from maybe in January. It didn't work out in January so I went to Villa and enjoyed a good period there," he said. "It was time to make another decision. My choice was easy. (Barcelona) is a family club, something I'm used to from my past. It feels like home." Barcelona are set to play three pre-season friendlies in Japan and South Korea starting on July 27. ($1 = 0.8511 euros)
