This year’s edition of the Toulon Youth Festival kicks off today and France will be hoping to capture their 12th title under the guidance of Ludovic Batelli.
It is possibly a less experienced Toulon squad that we are used to seeing from France. Last year’s team included PSG duo Adrien Rabiot and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, who was top scorer with four, with Nancy’s Paul Nardi winning best goalkeeper and then-Rennes midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko deemed ‘most elegant player’. In the group stage, they beat Chile, Mexico and Portugal, and drew with China, to book a spot in the final against Brazil; level at half-time through a brace from the penalty spot from Bahebeck, they ended up losing 5-2.
This edition they will be hoping to go one better, and there is still some top talent on show. This is a great chance to see some players take centre stage who maybe don’t get as many minutes as they would like in Ligue 1.
Stéphane Sparagna started Marseille’s opening game of the season against Bastia, but barely featured after that first weekend. Presnel Kimpembe, Younes Kaabouni and Thomas Lemar will be hoping to enhance their reputation in front of the usual barrage of scouts.
France are in Group A with Costa Rica, United States, Netherlands and Qatar. Only the two group winners will advance to the final day, so you have to hit the ground running.
FIXTURES
27th May: 18:00 United States v France – Stade Léo Lagrange, Toulon
29th May: 18:00 Qatar v France – Stade Perruc, Hyeres
2nd June: 18:00 France v Costa Rica – Stade de Lattre-de-Tassigny, Aubagne
4th June: 18:00 France v Netherlands – Stade Léo Lagrange, Toulon
We will try and bring you as much coverage as possible – TV coverage depending (BT Sport have the rights in the UK).
Goalkeepers:
16. Louis Souchaud (Chateauroux), 1. Thomas Didilion (Seraing United/BEL)
Defenders:
15. Raphael Diarra (Monaco), 3. Louis Nganioni (Lyon), 5. Stéphane Sparagna (Marseille), 4. Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), 2. Damien Dussaut (Standard Liege/BEL), 17. Jordan Diakese (PSG)
Midfielders:
8. Adrien Hunou (Clermont), 10. Younes Kaabouni (Bordeaux), 11. Thomas Lemar (Caen), 6. Yann Bodiger (Toulouse), 12. Marco Ilaimaharitra (Sochaux), 18. Fares Bahlouli (Lyon), 13. Baptiste Santamaria (Tours)
Attackers:
9. Enzo Crivelli (Bordeaux), 7. Jean-Luc Dompé Diarra (Valenciennes), 20. Romain Habran (Sochaux), 19.Aristote Madiani (Lens), Ulrich Nnomo (Chateauroux)