logo
France football boss backs coach despite 'cruel' Women's Euros elimination

France football boss backs coach despite 'cruel' Women's Euros elimination

France 246 days ago
Les Bleues lost on penalties to a Germany side who played with 10 women for almost all of a gruelling encounter which finished 1-1 after extra-time.
But for Diallo there's no question of sacking Bonadei.
"After the Olympics, we put our faith in Laurent until the World Cup (in 2027) with the aim of helping this team make the transition from one generation to the next," said Diallo.
"With 11 consecutive wins and a successful group stage (at the Euros), there are positive things to remember. But with a lot of humility, we have to get back to work, and that will be with Laurent Bonadei," he added.
However, the federation president made no attempt to play down the heartbreak of failing to progress past the quarter-finals despite being a goal and a player up in normal time.
Diallo described the loss to Germany as "a cruel disappointment", adding "everything had been put in place for this team to go much further in the tournament".
"It's a real setback, the eighth time in the last nine major tournaments that France have been eliminated at the quarters," he added.
"We're going to have to think with the coach and those in charge of women's football at the FFF about how we can work better."
Bonadei did not include former captain Wendie Renard and vastly experienced forward Eugenie Le Sommer in his squad.
In the group phase, France beat reigning champions England 2-1 in their opening match before thrashing Wales 4-1 and outclassing the Netherlands 5-2.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

King Charles salutes Lionesses after England's historic Euro glory
King Charles salutes Lionesses after England's historic Euro glory

France 24

time5 minutes ago

  • France 24

King Charles salutes Lionesses after England's historic Euro glory

Sarina Wiegman's side held their nerve to survive a tense penalty shoot-out as Chloe Kelly scored the decisive spot-kick after two crucial saves from Hannah Hampton. Alessia Russo's second-half equaliser had revived England's bid to retain the Euro title after Mariona Caldentey's 25th minute opener for Spain. Kelly's winning kick sparked jubilant celebrations across England, while the Prince of Wales and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined the party in the stands at St Jakob-Park in Basel. Prince William celebrated with his daughter Princess Charlotte before congratulating England's players on the pitch. England's 3-1 shoot-out victory avenged their 2023 Women's World Cup final loss against Spain in Australia. King Charles saluted Wiegman's team for their cathartic win, and immediately set their next target as he urged them to win the World Cup in 2027. "This brings you, your manager and all your support team my most heartfelt congratulations on winning the Euros 2025," the King wrote on social media. "For more years than I care to remember, England fans have sung that famous chant 'football's coming home'. "As you return home with the trophy you won at Wembley three years ago, it is a source of great pride that, through sporting skill and awesome teamwork, the Lionesses have made those words ring true. For this, you have my whole family's warmest appreciation and admiration. "More than that, though, you have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms. "Well done, Lionesses. The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can!" Starmer congratulated the Lionesses on making history with the second of their back-to-back Euro crowns. The Lionesses are the first senior English national football team to win a major tournament on foreign soil. 'You've made the nation proud' England's men won the 1966 World Cup at home and the Lionesses clinched the Women's Euro at Wembley in 2022. "Champions! Congratulations Lionesses - what a team. What a game. What drama," Starmer said on X. "You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers." While Kelly and company earned the silverware in Switzerland, back home street parties, pubs and bars were filled with England fans cheering their team to victory. Supporters watched on big screens at Boxpark Croydon in south London, erupting when Kelly scored her penalty. Ecstatic fans danced on benches, waved England flags and threw drinks into the air after the ball hit the net. Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said a victory parade in London on Tuesday would "give England fans an opportunity to celebrate with the players". "Our history-making Lionesses are champions of Europe for the second successive time, and have become the first England Senior team in history to win a tournament overseas," he said. "We are so proud of all of the players, Sarina and the support team who have all been part of this incredible achievement. "They have all worked unbelievably hard and we know the nation shares our pride. The victory celebration in London on Tuesday will give England fans an opportunity to celebrate with the players, and be part of history. "We've had amazing support from our fans both in Switzerland and at home throughout the tournament, and we look forward to celebrating together and creating some lifelong memories."

Wiegman hails 'incredible' Euros repeat for England
Wiegman hails 'incredible' Euros repeat for England

France 24

time5 minutes ago

  • France 24

Wiegman hails 'incredible' Euros repeat for England

Defending champions England made an inauspicious start to Euro 2025 in Switzerland when they lost to France, but they went on to retain the trophy by overcoming Spain, who had beaten them in the 2023 World Cup final. "I just can't believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy," Wiegman told BBC One TV. "It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch -- all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent. "From the first game it was chaos. Losing your first game and becoming European champions is incredible. "Football is chaos." England won the penalty shootout 3-1 after the match in Basel finished 1-1 following extra time. "We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible," Wiegman, who is Dutch, said. England captain Leah Williamson said she had a feeling her team was going to win. "(I feel) total disbelief -- but at the same time, I knew it was going to happen. There's always a moment when I think, right girls, let's turn it on. "The way we defended as a team, nothing came through us. It felt like it was going to be our day. "Relentless, we have players who absolutely love it. It's just unbelievable to do it again. And after that first game, no-one thought we would -- and fair enough! But nothing has changed." © 2025 AFP

Four-time Tour de France winner Pogacar - greatest cyclist of his generation
Four-time Tour de France winner Pogacar - greatest cyclist of his generation

France 24

timean hour ago

  • France 24

Four-time Tour de France winner Pogacar - greatest cyclist of his generation

On his swaggering romp across France on his way to a fourth Tour de France title on Sunday, one could still catch glimpses of the boy desperate to beat his brother in the hills outside Ljubljana. But now, at 26, Pogacar has learned to curb some of his gung-ho instincts, which not only lifted him to success at times, but were also behind his rare defeats. In 2024 he won the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and the world title, a feat known as cycling's Triple Crown and won only by Merckx in 1974 and Stephen Roche in 1987. Pogacar's dominance of the current scene is without doubt, but the kangaroo courts of social media are asking another question, one that will forever dog cycling -- is he for real? Pogacar, a proven combative all-rounder capable of taking on mountain climbs as easily as flat sprints, has never tested positive at any time in his career. "I'm a good boy from a good family, taking no short cuts in life," he told AFP. He does indeed appear to be surrounded by a good family, a school teacher mother and a furniture designer father who live in the same village in the hills outside the Slovenian capital where he grew up. He shares a home with his fiance and fellow cyclist Urska Zigart in Monaco when their programmes allow, while his firm friend and off-season traing partner cyclist Michael Matthews of Australia is a near neighbour. "He hasn't changed, he's such a humble guy. He just wants to have fun and enjoy his riding," Matthews said. Pogacar is credited with having recreated that family spirit at his Team UAE, with whom he signed a 54-million-dollar six-year contract last November, according to Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. 'No pretences' Teammate Pavel Sivakov told AFP that Pogacar was easy to deal with and a constantly positive personality. "He's always super relaxed and easy to work with. Mentally he's always focused on the positives. We know he's always going to deliver whatever he can. He's humble and good for the atmosphere in the team," said Sivakov. While most agree there is something boyish about Pogacar, there are signs he has grown up. "This is my sixth Tour de France now, I miss the white jersey," he told reporters, referring to the jersey worn by the best-placed rider aged 26 and under. In taking on his great rival, the two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar has galvanised his team and forced them to control the peloton, leading to accusations of arrogance. "There's a difference between arrogance and trying to win a Tour de France," retorted the man who psyches himself up by listening to Slovenian rapper Drill. He still rides a bike with a sticker of the Incredible Hulk on it, joking: "He's the one you shouldn't make angry." Fellow Slovenian Matej Mohoric, himself a junior world champion and elite rider for the Bahrain Victorious team, said this week that Pogacar was a true great. "He was born with a machine inside him, and he was born with the brain to use that machine," Mohoric said. There will always be doubters, but during his victorious charge across France, Pogacar was already scanning the horizon for the next win. "Unlike a lot of cyclists I haven't booked any holidays, so maybe I'll race the Vuelta," he said of the Spanish Tour, which starts on August 23. He will also be in the Rwandan capital Kigali in September to defend the world road race title.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store