France’s Under-21 side booked its place at the European Championship in Orléans, but Gérald Baticle’s attention has already turned to another contest: persuading clubs to release the players who earned qualification.
Qualification secured in Orléans
- France defeated Luxembourg 3-2 on Saturday night to secure qualification for the Under-21 European Championship.
- The finals will be staged in Albania and Serbia from 16 June to 3 July.
- Baticle will have two further international camps to shape his preparations and reinforce the collective principles that helped France through qualifying.
The former Angers coach wants to take a group built around the players who have already shared the qualifying campaign, rather than begin again shortly before the tournament.
“Qualifying with the right spirit, values and collective playing principles is very positive,” Baticle said. “The ideal is to have the players who won qualification and experienced it together. Getting there is good, but coming to the finals and genuinely competing is even better.”
Baticle calls on French clubs
The France coach made a pointed appeal to domestic clubs, acknowledging that foreign sides have no obligation to help his plans while urging French teams to allow their young players to take part.
“I am counting on everyone: the players and the clubs,” he said. “Foreign clubs do not owe us anything, but French clubs can play their part and let their young players experience an international adventure.
“A European Championship can become a great memory for them if it is approached properly, and hopefully a great memory because of the results. It is another battle, but it is an important one.”
Lessons from the 2025 tournament
- At the previous Under-21 Euros in 2025, Baticle had to work without around 10 players he had expected to select.
- Despite those late absences, France reached the semi-finals.
- The coach said the disruption forced him to introduce players he was only discovering shortly before the competition.
Baticle stressed that he has no shortage of talent available, but argued that last-minute changes make sustained preparation almost impossible.
“We had 23 players, 10 matches together, 10 weeks of work and five or six camps as a group,” he said of the 2025 build-up. “When players do not come at the last moment, you have five days to prepare a new squad and redo all the preparation work.
“In five days, it is simply impossible. We arrive, try to improve through the matches, and remain competitive. But it makes sense that the players who achieved qualification should be there to represent our flag, our colours and French football.”
Baticle pointed to Spain as an example of a country whose young internationals learn to win together before moving into the senior game. For France, the qualification job is complete. Keeping the group intact for Albania and Serbia is the next task.
