France Archives - Page 10 of 10 - The Cult of Calcio

France Thank Mbappé for Croatia Win in Nations League

October 15, 2020 Luke Phelps Croatia, France, Nations League

France have leveled Portugal at the top of the Nations League group A with a 2-1 win over Croatia. The pair had met in the 2018 World Cup final in Russia and as it was that day, the French came out on top. Didier Deschamps had to rely on his 2018 heroes Antoine Griezmann and PSG star Kylian Mbappé to seal yet another victory against their old foes.

Nations League Round 3 Recap: A Ronaldo – Mbappé Stalemate

October 13, 2020 Awais Khan Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Europa! Europa!, FIGC, France, Germany, Iceland, Italian Football, Italy, Nations League, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Azzurri

If you were expecting drama, you should have missed the Round 3 of the UEFA Nations League fixtures this weekend. The status quo remained the same with plenty of tied games across the board. This is not to say there weren't any interesting movements in the different groups’ points table, but surely fans were expecting more from games like France - Portugal.

In Round 2 of the Nations League, it was the Cristiano Ronaldo show in Stockholm as the Juventus ace scored a brace to get to 101 goals for Portugal

Nations League Round Two Recap: Cristiano Ronaldo Does It Again!

September 9, 2020 Awais Khan Euro 2020, Europa! Europa!, Italian Football, Nations League

The second round of the Nations League saw Cristiano Ronaldo stealing the stage but there was much more that happened both on and off the pitch. The international break ended just like it began, unable to answer how the coronavirus pandemic can be managed in football. Kylian Mbappé was the notable casualty of national duty, though he will soon return to action.

Portugal thrashed Croatia in their first game of the Nations League A - Here's our full recap of the round

Nations League A Round Recap: Portugal Off To a Stunning Start

September 6, 2020 Awais Khan Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Nations League, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

After a gap of an eternity, international fixtures returned with the resumption of the UEFA Nations League, so here is our full recap of the First Round in the Division A of the competition. Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence was the main talking point for the Portuguese team, but his side still did light work of the Croatians who were missing Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric.

Meanwhile In Moscow: The Final Top 11 of World Cup 2018

July 19, 2018 Diego Ottaviano Belgium, Croatia, France, Meanwhile In Moscow, Russia, World Cup, World Cup 2018

The France squad that just won their second World Cup title didn’t make our jaws drop. Beauty and appearance were rather left to the Gioconda’s smile and to Napoleonic conquers. But in football, those who win are always right. And so, The Cult of Calcio’s final Top 11 lineup could not but feature many French – pardon, World Champions – representatives.

Meanwhile in Moscow: Vive La France! The World Cup Is Bleu!

July 15, 2018 Matteo Carnevale Croatia, France, Meanwhile In Moscow, World Cup, World Cup 2018

The World Cup Winners remains an elite club with very strict admission rules. France covered themselves with glory for the second time, while brusquely rejecting Croatia’s application to join the club. The Final in Moscow ended 4-2 for Didier Deschamps’ side, but we need to thank both teams for giving life to one of the most entertaining finals in decades.

Meanwhile in Moscow: Umtiti Brings France Back to WC Final

July 10, 2018 Matteo Carnevale Croatia, France, Meanwhile In Moscow, World Cup, World Cup 2018

A flash in the night of Saint Petersburg, Samuel Umtiti’s header brought France back to a World Cup Final, 12 years after the bitter outcome of Berlin 2006. Didier Deschamps’ side prevailed in their Semi Final over Belgium with a lone goal by their Barcelona-based center back. Just like 4 years ago in Brazil, the Red Devils faded away in the decisive moment.

Meanwhile in Moscow: Maimed Uruguay Bend Knee to France

July 7, 2018 Diego Ottaviano France, Meanwhile In Moscow, Uruguay, World Cup, World Cup 2018

Et voila! Without Edinson Cavani’s genius – kept at bay by an injury – Uruguay evidenced their limits, and bent their knee to France. Les Bleus won 2-0 their Quarter Final match in Nizhny Novgorod with goals by Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann, showing cynicism and team solidarity. France's next opponents in the Semi Finals will be Belgium.

Meanwhile in Moscow: Mbappé Cancels Messi In Epic 4-3 Win

July 1, 2018 Matteo Carnevale Argentina, France, Meanwhile In Moscow, World Cup, World Cup 2018

He is not even 20, and maybe that’s the least impressive thing about Kylian Mbappé, who led France to an epic 4-3 over Argentina yesterday in the first World Cup Round of 16 game, at the end of an unforgettable battle that also featured sensational goals on the part of Angel Di Maria and Benjamin Pavard. Absent without leave, once again, was Leo Messi.

Meanwhile in Moscow: Pogba Saves Bleus in Aussies Battle

June 16, 2018 Matteo Carnevale Australia, France, Meanwhile In Moscow, World Cup, World Cup 2018

It took a little help from technology for France to overcome a gritty Australia, and gain their first three points in their World Cup run. The French benefited of the first penalty ever assigned via VAR in a world competition, but coach Didier Deschamps and his boys left Kazan with more doubts than certainties, despite goals scored by Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba.

Meteore Mondiali: Grosso, l’uomo dell’ultimo minuto

June 10, 2018 Antonio Guarini France, Germany, Italy, Meanwhile In Moscow, The Azzurri, The Grass Is Greener, World Cup

“You will take the last penalty, because you have always been decisive so far.” This is what coach Marcello Lippi told Fabio Grosso before the penalty shootouts that determined the outcome of World Cup 2006 Final between Italy and France. Lippi’s choice to bet on a player who was not even part of his original starting lineup proved to be a winning one.

Meteore Mondiali: Guivarc’h, il Campione del Mondo senza goal

June 10, 2018 Antonio Guarini Meanwhile In Moscow, The Grass Is Greener, World Cup

Sometimes, you make it to history not because of what you did, but of what you didn't do. The France squad that won World Cup 1998 featured strikers like Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet. Yet, their starting forward was Stephan Guivarc'h. Today's World Cup Meteor (Number 9 on the pitch, and in our countdown) is the striker who won a world title without scoring a goal.

Tag: France