This November gathering takes place in a special atmosphere for the French team.
Many feelings intertwined at the Château de Clairefontaine this week for the last gathering of the French team this calendar year. There were many smiles and lightness, when welcoming a 17-year-old phenomenon, Warren Zaire-Emery, for his first call-up to the France group. But there was a more serious tone, too, given what this time of year represents for the French selection.
The terrible memories of the attacks
8 years ago, the terrible attacks of November 13 struck France, inside the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, during a France-Germany friendly match. A drama that some players experienced from the inside, like Kingsley Coman, who was already part of the group at that time.
The sad anniversary of France-Bulgaria
This autumn week also marks a sad anniversary: France-Bulgaria. This meeting of November 17, 1993 ended in a setback for the Blues conceded on the gong (1-2) and synonymous with failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. It was a time when the French selection could therefore miss two World Cups consecutively, like Italy today. An unimaginable disillusionment today.
When the great breeders meet…
Finally, a touch of nostalgia ran through the staff, too, when two illustrious coaches went to the castle for a little surprise visit. Aimé Jacquet and Roger Lemerre, guarantors of success during the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, met Didier Deschamps and his deputies for a very special moment of sharing.
🤝 Didier Deschamps and his staff meet 2 illustrious coaches at the Château de Clairefontaine 🇫🇷
🏆 CDM 1998
🏆Euro 2000
🏆 Confederations Cup 2001
🏆 CDM 2018
🏆 Nations League 2021#ProudtobeBlue pic.twitter.com/18RpaciiEG— French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 14, 2023
