France’s Under-21 side closed their Euro 2027 qualifying campaign in a blaze of goals, dismantling Switzerland 7-1 on Tuesday night and leaving their coach with an unbeaten run, a tighter squad and a growing sense that this group can carry real weight into next summer.
An unbeaten qualifying finish
The final score against Switzerland gave France a spectacular conclusion to a successful campaign, but the coach placed as much importance on the attitude shown across the entire international window.
- France travelled to Iceland and Estonia during the gathering, before ending it with the seven-goal victory over Switzerland.
- The team remained fully committed through all four matches, including Tuesday’s fixture, despite qualification already being secured.
- The squad had been reduced from 25 players to 19 by the end of the camp, yet the remaining group responded by pulling together for the final result.
- France completed qualifying without defeat and will now head to the Euro 2027 finals, to be held in Albania and Serbia from 16 June to 3 July.
The coach praised the players’ application from the opening moments to the closing whistle, highlighting their commitment to the tactical work proposed by the staff. He also credited his staff for creating the right environment, with almost every player receiving minutes and contributing his individual qualities to the collective effort.
He stopped short of ranking this generation above previous France Under-21 teams, noting that earlier groups had also possessed quality and an exemplary mindset. Yet he described the current camp as particularly encouraging from inside the setup.
Tel reaches landmark in Switzerland rout
Mathys Tel was at the centre of the final-night performance. His hat-trick against Switzerland took him to 17 goals for France Under-21s, drawing level as the leading scorer of the modern Bleuets era.
The record was not a stated target, the coach insisted. The priority remains the team, with individual displays emerging when the collective structure functions properly.
Tel has nevertheless become one of the key figures in the squad. He has attended almost every gathering, has been described as both a technical leader and an emotional driver, and had already scored five times in four matches in September.
His contribution is not limited to finishing. The coach pointed to Tel’s willingness to defend from the front, arguing that the work of France’s attackers sets the defensive tone for the whole side.
The international break has also offered a positive setting for the Tottenham player after difficult recent months at club level. France’s young internationals have known one another for a long time, share a common passion for the game and enjoy returning to represent their country. Their shared ambition is now to win a trophy.
Tests against Italy and England next
France will discover their Euro 2027 draw on 26 November, but preparation will continue before then.
- The Under-21s will reconvene in November for matches against Italy and England.
- Those fixtures have been deliberately chosen against major opponents, with the staff seeking tougher tests to drive improvement.
- A further meeting is planned for March, when France hope to face one of Portugal, Spain or Germany, depending on which nations qualify for the finals.
- The squad will then have several days together in June before travelling to Albania and Serbia, using that final period to complete their playing plan.
After the Swiss scoreline and an undefeated route through qualifying, France have earned the right to look ahead with confidence. The harder work now is to turn that momentum into a tournament run next summer.
