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‘It was really bad’, France legend Patrick Vieira criticizes the team after loss to Spain
The loss to Spain ended the competition for France, with the match being commented by Patrick Vieira. There was much expectation at the 2026 World Cup for France as they had won every match before the semifinal, but Spain were able to stop them with a 2-0 victory. Patrick Vieira criticized the team for how they played in the match. Vieira said: “There were big expectations for France to win the World Cup. We are all really disappointed by the result, but mostly by the performance. We needed our top players to perform today and they didn’t do it. It wasn’t one or two, it was all of them collectively. It was really bad.” The former midfielder played a key role in helping France win the World Cup for the first time in their history on home soil in 1998. While his comments were harsh, they also reflected his experience in the competition. Vieira on Michael Olise Even though Vieira was critical of France’s performance, he also acknowledged that Spain were the better team. Vieira said: “I said before that Spain needed to be at their best to beat France, and they did it.” Olise did not play well (David Ramos/Getty Images) Spain’s defensive display was one of the biggest reasons they reached the final, as they managed to neutralize France’s dangerous attack, with Michael Olise unable to make his usual impact. Vieira said: “Olise was the main man. We needed him to get on the ball, but they stopped him playing. He didn’t get on the ball. Spain won the game in every aspect. France didn’t turn up at all.” Vieira had faith in his team The defeat was disappointing for France because many believed the team was on course to reach the final. Vieira himself had said on ITV before the match that he expected France to get there. Vieira said: “I don’t see anybody really stopping the French team going to the final. I think France are not going to have any kind of issues playing against them because I think that France is a better team today than they were four years ago. But I don’t think Spain are a better team today than they were four years ago.”
Manchester United Are Set To Step Up Their Efforts To Land This Borussia Dortmund Midfielder: Good Fit For Carrick?
In a recent post on X, journalist Patrick Berger mentioned that Manchester United are set to step up their efforts to land Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha. It has been claimed that the Red D...
Austria 2026 World Cup preview: Squad breakdown, key player, and tactical analysis
Full preview of Austria for the 2026 World Cup, including squad breakdown, key players, and tactical analysis of their chances. Austria returns to the global stage for the first time since 1998, carrying significant momentum into the tournament. As fans review the FIFA World Cup 2026 teams, the Austrian national squad stands out following a complete transformation under head coach Ralf Rangnick. His high-intensity system turned the team into a formidable opponent, raising expectations for their North American campaign. Drawn into Group J alongside reigning champion Argentina, Algeria, and Jordan, Austria faces a challenging but manageable path to the knockout rounds. This World Cup 2026 team preview breaks down the Austria tactical analysis, Austria key players, and group-stage outlook as they prepare to test their aggressive pressing style against the best international soccer teams 2026 has to offer. Team profile CoachRalf RangnickCaptainDavid AlabaNicknameDas TeamFIFA ranking23rdConfederationUEFAGroupJBest World Cup resultThird place (1954)World Cup appearances7Last World Cup appearance1998 How Austria play The Austria formation and tactical identity revolve entirely around aggressive, high-intensity pressing. Coach Rangnick has successfully implemented his trademark system, requiring players to immediately hunt the ball upon losing possession rather than retreating into a defensive block. This relentless approach allows Austria to dominate the ball and dictate the tempo. During their qualification campaign, the team averaged over 64% possession and registered 18 tackles per match, highlighting their disruptive presence off the ball. Winning the ball high up the field also serves as Austria’s primary creative outlet. By forcing turnovers in dangerous areas, players like Christoph Baumgartner and Marcel Sabitzer can quickly transition into the final third to generate high-quality scoring chances. However, this demanding style of play presents specific challenges. Maintaining such a frantic pace requires elite physical conditioning, and the intense North American summer heat could test the roster’s stamina. If Austria can manage their energy levels effectively, their cohesive pressing system makes them a difficult matchup for any opponent in the tournament. Ralf Rangnick: The coach behind Austria Ralf Rangnick took charge of the Austrian national team in May 2022 and quickly revitalized the squad. The veteran German Austria coach arrived following a brief stint as interim boss at Manchester United and a highly successful tenure building the soccer operations at RB Leipzig. Widely recognized as a pioneer of the modern high-pressing game, Rangnick has successfully translated his club-level philosophy to the international stage. His players have fully embraced this demanding system, resulting in an entertaining and effective brand of soccer. While this is his first venture into international management, Rangnick has earned widespread praise from supporters for elevating the program’s standards. His tactical conviction and clear leadership style will be central to Austria’s ability to navigate the challenges of a major global tournament. Key player: Christoph Baumgartner Baumgartner is the vital creative link in Austria’s aggressive tactical setup. The attacking midfielder enters the tournament following a stellar club campaign with RB Leipzig, where he consistently delivered crucial goals and assists. Baumgartner excels at finding pockets of space between the opposition’s midfield and defensive lines. His intelligent movement and precise link-up play frequently create wide isolation opportunities for teammates like Sabitzer and Patrick Wimmer. Equally important is his work rate without the ball. Having developed within systems modeled on Rangnick’s philosophy throughout his club career, Baumgartner executes the team’s pressing triggers flawlessly. If Baumgartner suffers an injury, Austria would lose their most dynamic central cr
Socceroos hero Patrick Beach revels in World Cup win: ‘It was absolute limbs’
Goalkeeper repays faith shown in him with resolute displaySocceroos open campaign with win against Turkey – in picturesBefore he became an instant national hero, Socceroos goalkeeper Patrick Beach had a perfect view of Nestory Irankunda’s opening goal during the 2-0 win against Turkey in Vancouver.“We know one of our threats is our pace up front,” he said. “I just saw an opportunity to get it out wide, and then within two or three passes, Nes was in the 18-yard box and having a crack on goal. And then it was absolute limbs, wasn’t it?” Continue reading...
Kylian Mbappe no longer stands alone after Michael Olise matches his France goalscoring record just before 2026 World Cup
The national team entered its clash with Northern Ireland looking to fine-tune preparations, but the evening ended with a historic moment that placed Olise alongside one of the biggest names in French soccer. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than two days away, Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise have become the center of attention after a remarkable performance in France’s final warm-up match before the tournament. The national team entered its clash with Northern Ireland looking to fine-tune preparations, but the evening ended with a historic moment that placed Olise alongside one of the biggest names in French soccer. As Didier Deschamps made final adjustments before the opening World Cup fixture against Senegal, France produced a convincing 3-1 victory in Lille. While Mbappe remains the face of the national team and continues to chase more individual milestones, another attacking star stole the spotlight and matched an achievement that had belonged exclusively to the captain for more than two years. France entered the match under pressure to deliver a strong response after an unexpected setback against the Ivory Coast. With the World Cup beginning in less than a week, Deschamps wanted his squad to sharpen its tactical approach and build confidence before traveling to North America. Les Bleus controlled possession for long stretches against Northern Ireland and frequently pinned the visitors deep inside their own half. Although the attack occasionally lacked fluidity, France created enough chances to eventually overwhelm its opponent. Mbappe started alongside an impressive attacking cast that included Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and several other players expected to play major roles during the World Cup. Arsenal defender William Saliba also returned to the lineup as Deschamps experimented with a setup close to his strongest available team. Michael Olise delivers stunning performance The breakthrough arrived shortly before halftime when Olise reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area. As soon as Olise got his hands on a loose ball in the penalty area, the French forward swung his right foot and unleashed a thunderous effort that went wide of the goal. That opening goal gave France a deserved lead and set the stage for an unforgettable individual display. The Bayern star doubled the advantage after the break with another composed finish. Receiving the ball centrally inside the area, he struck a precise low effort beyond the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 and place Northern Ireland firmly on the back foot. Olise Masterclass 🔥🔥🔥🤯 performance vs Northern Ireland TODAY Olise hat-trick goals 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Rwk45GPHwc— Madrid Pulse (@Madridpulse0) June 9, 2026 Although Patrick Kelly briefly pulled one back for the visitors, France never lost control of the contest. The response came through the same player who had already dominated the evening. The record that connects Olise and Mbappe The defining moment arrived in the closing stages when Olise completed his hat-trick with a spectacular long-range strike. The French attacker received a fantastic pass from Malo Gusto and then stormed the penalty area with a left-footed shot that soared into the far top left corner. The goal sealed a 3-1 victory and, more importantly, placed Olise in exclusive company. Thus, the 24-year-old became the first France player to score a hat-trick since Kylian Mbappe achieved the feat against Gibraltar in a Euro 2024 qualifier in November 2023. For more than two years, Mbappe had been the only French player to record a hat-trick for the national team.