France’s first group stage ‘upset’ in 46 years.
The France U-20 football team won its final Group F match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 3-1 against Honduras at the Estadio Ciudad de la Plata in Argentina on Monday (Sept. 29), but its hopes of advancing to the round of 16 were dashed.
France conceded an early goal through Ramos in the 15th minute, but Birginio equalized in the second half. N’Zouango then scored the winner to record their first win of the tournament.
The win gave France three points after two defeats, but it also left them goal-deficient in the wild-card race. With five goals for and five against, they are 0. Slovakia and Tunisia, who have three points, are both on +1.
Going into the tournament, France was considered the favorite to win the tournament, but they were missing most of their key players and suffered unexpected losses to South Korea and Gambia.
It was the first time France had been knocked out of the group stage in 46 years, since their first appearance in Tunisia in 1977 (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss, and an elimination). They’ve reached at least the round of 16, the fourth round in 2011, and the title in 2013, but this time they’re packing up at the start.먹튀검증
Along with France, Japan also suffered an early exit after losing out on the wildcard race. They ‘busted out’ of the group stage for the first time in 22 years since 2001.
Nigeria, New Zealand, Slovakia, and Tunisia secured the four round of 16 tickets through the wildcard competition.