France

The opening match of the Women’s World Cup is in the books, host France crushing South Korea 4-0. But more than the final score, the France vs South Korea highlights showed one thing: the American women will have to beat Les Bleues if they hope to repeat, and it won’t be easy.

The USWNT entered the 2019 Women’s World Cup as the favorite to win it all. Jill Ellis’ side is ranked No. 1 in the world, features some of the best attacking talent on the planet and has the experience to repeat as champion. 

Yes, the Women’s World Cup is using VAR. Yes, people are going to complain. And yes, the VAR got the call right in its first usage during the tournament opener between France and South Korea on Friday. 

France was the first victim of VAR at Women’s World Cup after a goal was disallowed for the narrowest of offside calls in the first half of the first match of the tournament. 

The U.S. has advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup after shocking tournament-favorite France 3-2 in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on Tuesday. Trailing 2-1 with just over 15 minutes remaining, the USMNT U-20s came storming back with late goals from Sebastian Soto and Justin Rennicks. 

The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will begin on Friday, June 7, with France, the host nation, opening play against South Korea at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Almost 50,000 will be in attendance to watch the opening ceremony followed by the first fixture from Group A, and just like when Russia opened the 2018 Men’s World Cup against Saudi Arabia, it’ll be the only match of the day.

A promotion/relegation playoff between Le Mans (third-place finishers in the Championnat National, France’s third division) and Gazélec Ajaccio (18th-place in Ligue 2, France’s second division) was decided in the most extraordinary of circumstances on Sunday. 

The first leg, played at MMArena in Le Mans last Friday, finished 2-1 in favor of Gazélec. Accordingly, the Ligue 2 side was heavily favored to retain its division two status ahead of today’s return leg at Stade Ange Casanova.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé was awarded the National Union Of Professional Footballers’ Ligue 1 Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards at an event on Sunday night.

His PSG strike partner Neymar was nowhere to be found, despite being in Paris.

But the Brazilian had a really good reason to miss out on the award ceremony, and it had nothing to do with the Game of Thrones finale. 

Paris Saint-Germain continued to play out the string on Saturday against Angers. Having clinched the Ligue 1 title and after suffering a shock loss in the Coupe de France final, PSG’s final three matches are little more than glorified friendlies for the Parisian club. 

So perhaps with that in mind we saw a new Neymar headband on display Saturday in PSG’s 2-1 sunny stroll past Angers. 

PSG has endured quite the torpid spell in its last matches of the season. From bowing out of the Champions League to Manchester United, to losing the Coupe De France to Rennes on penalties, there hasn’t been much joy for Les Parisiens, spare eventually securing the Ligue 1 title.

The misery was compounded Tuesday as PSG traveled to Montpellier.

Neymar has officially recovered from his now annual foot injury. The Brazilian started for the first time since January 23 and appears to be in full form already, supplying a first-half assist and goal for PSG against Stade Rennes in the Coupe de France final on Saturday in Paris. 

Stephanie Frappart will become the first female Ligue 1 referee during Sunday’s match between Amiens and Strasbourg. 

Une pionnière au sifflet d'@AmiensSC  @RCSA