Kylian Mbappe can "follow Cristiano Ronaldo's path at Real Madrid" if he works harder, according to former France defender and World Cup winner Vincent Candela.

The former Paris Saint-Germain forward has endured a tricky start to life with Los Blancos since making the switch as a free agent.

Despite scoring eight goals in 16 appearances across all competitions, Mbappe is yet to truly catch fire at Santiago Bernabeu, where his displays have been subjected to widespread criticism.

The France forward has underperformed his season's expected goals (xG) total by 2.04, while he was left out of Les Bleus' squad for their recent Nations League matches after failing to find the net in his last four appearances.

Mbappe is averaging a goal every 166 minutes in all competitions this term, compared to one every 88 minutes in his final campaign with PSG, and was flagged offside eight times during the humiliating 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in October.

Candela, who was part of France's squad that won the 1998 World Cup, says Mbappe must up his game in the Spanish capital.

However, the 51-year-old is confident his compatriot will do that and, if he does, can potentially emulate a Madrid icon, who became the club's leading scorer and won four Champions League titles during his glittering spell.

"He has to work harder in Spain. He can still grow and become a stronger player," Candela said in an interview with RB Sports, via Diario Sport.

"At Real Madrid, Mbappe is a player among others, while at PSG, he was an icon.

"I hope Mbappe can follow Cristiano Ronaldo's path at Real Madrid, but it's too early to compare them. First, he has to win the Champions League, as the Portuguese has done several times."

Luciano Spalletti believes Italy are "on the right track" despite the Azzurri ending their Nations League campaign with a 3-1 defeat to France on Sunday.

Adrien Rabiot scored twice and Guglielmo Vicario put through his own net as Les Bleus triumphed at San Siro, with all three goals coming from Lucas Digne set-pieces.

Italy had already confirmed a top-two finish by beating Belgium 1-0 three days earlier, however, so they will join France in the quarter-finals next March.

Despite the result, there were plenty of positives for Spalletti to take from Italy's performance, as his team enjoyed more possession (53.8%), shots (10 to six), expected goals (0.59 xG to 0.39) and touches in the opposition box (20 to eight) than their opponents.

"I believe that we are on the right track, I saw many things we sought in the correct way, but we were influenced by the emotion of the match, we forced the match," he said.

"In the second half the game was managed well, we often had the ball but we have to be cleaner with our ball management.

"The analysis is certainly positive, it is clear that there is something to review. When we return, the group will do this."

Italy were undone by some excellent dead-ball taking from Aston Villa full-back Digne, though, and Spalletti knows they must be more competitive on a physical level in the future.

"The boys wanted to go and challenge the opponent, there you spend energy. The third set-piece created problems for us, then we tried to react to score again, but they are physical," he said. 

"Now we will review the situations well, they are one of the strongest teams there is from a physical point of view."

Adrien Rabiot believes Sunday's win over Italy showed "the true face of the France team" as they secured top spot in Nations League Group A2.

The midfielder headed home twice in their 3-1 victory, meeting excellent deliveries from Lucas Digne on both, with his second goal restoring the all-important two-goal cushion that ensured they finished above the Azzurri in the group.

This comes after France had failed to find a way past Israel in a frustrating 0-0 draw last time out.

However, Sunday's victory ensured France will be seeded in the quarter-finals draw as they seem to have put their disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, in which they won just twice as they struggled in front of goal, behind them.

Les Bleus also avenged the 3-1 defeat to Italy on home soil in the reverse fixture, something Rabiot said was playing on their minds while they prepared for their trip to San Siro.

"It's been a long time since we've played a match like this, that we haven't fought in this way all together, until the end," he told TF1.

"We also had the objective of winning with a two-goal difference, we did it. But frankly, the mutual aid that there was in this match, the combativeness, the team spirit, it's to be highlighted. Frankly, we enjoyed playing this match.

"It was a different context [Thursday]. Above all, there was a revenge to be taken compared to the previous match against Italy, who had come to win at home. It's a great evening. I hope we will continue to show this face. It's the true face of the France team."

Digne officially got two assists in the victory, but he also played a big role in France's other goal – his free-kick rattled the crossbar before bouncing in off the unfortunate Guglielmo Vicario.

In fact, France scored three goals from set-pieces in a match for the first time since 1991, when they netted three times from dead-ball situations against Albania.

"[The free-kick is] a technical gesture that is worked on in training. The more you do, the more automatic it becomes, and it pays off," Digne said.

"Offensively, it's not bad at all. As a defender, I would have preferred to finish with a clean sheet, but we can't have everything. We finished first, it's great.

"We had a revenge to take from the first leg, we wanted to show a completely different face. And in addition to our slightly worse match against Israel... We really wanted to show that this jersey is close to our hearts. The whole group was present. It was really a complete match."

France's Nations League quarter-finals will be played in March. 

France secured top spot in Nations League Group A2 as they beat Italy 3-1 thanks in large part to the efforts of Adrien Rabiot and Lucas Digne.

Rabiot headed home twice at San Siro on Sunday, each time from excellent Digne dead-ball deliveries.

Digne also played a pivotal role in France's second goal, with his exceptional free-kick clattering the crossbar and bouncing in off the unfortunate Guglielmo Vicario.

And though Italy hit back through Andrea Cambiaso just two minutes after Vicario's own goal to make it 2-1, they could not find a second wind after Rabiot had restored Les Bleus' two-goal cushion midway through the second half.

Mike Maignan, playing in his home stadium, made a fantastic save from Moise Kean deep into stoppage time to preserve France's advantage and ensure Didier Deschamps' side, who were frustrated by Israel last time out, kept hold of top spot.

The result means France, who did not feel Kylian Mbappe's absence this time out as they had done against Israel, will be seeded in the quarter-finals draw, with those matches to be played in March.

Data Debrief: Delight for Digne and Rabiot

Both playing for France for the 50th time, Digne and Rabiot were the stars of the show as Les Bleus gained revenge for their 3-1 defeat to Italy on home soil back in September.

Rabiot's first goal – a fine header from a brilliant Digne corner – came after just one minute and 59 seconds, marking the earliest goal Italy have conceded in a home match since Opta began recording such data in 2008. It was also France's fastest goal in an away match since a Patrick Battiston effort in a 4-0 win over Luxembourg in October 1984.

France scored three goals from set-pieces in a match for the first time since 1991, when they netted three times from dead-ball situations against Albania.

Les Bleus have now won each of their last three away matches against Italy, more than in their first 14.

Italy may feel hard done by given they had more shots (10 to six) and accumulated a higher expected goals figure (0.7 xG to 0.4), but France's deadly double act of Digne and Rabiot were worthy matchwinners.

Fabien Galthie says it was a "special match" after France edged past New Zealand 30-29 on Saturday.

The All Blacks held the lead at half-time as tries from Peter Lakai and Cam Roigard helped put them 17-10 up, with Romain Buros powering over on his debut to keep France in touching distance.

However, the hosts flipped the script in the second half, coming out strong as Paul Boudehent dotted down after a powerful maul to help level the scoreline.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey then gave them the lead, and though Damien McKenzie's penalties kept the All Blacks on France's heels, Tomas Ramos also stayed perfect with his kicks, doing enough to help them record a third straight win over New Zealand.

Les Bleus had gone 14 games without a win against New Zealand prior to this run, while it is the first time since 1994-95 they have managed three in a row against their opponents.

Galthie was delighted with his players' focus to ensure they overcame the half-time deficit.

"It was a special match; we know the opponent. When you see the scenario of the match, winning by one point, it brings back memories," he told TF1.

"We have six years of experience with this team. For a few years, we have had arguments, we have identified how to play them, we are sticking to this roadmap. We had to keep our heads down.

"At half-time, we found solutions. It's a close call, but a point is a lot. I am very proud, this is the third time we have hosted them. Three times we have beaten them. We have confidence. They have given us weaknesses, cracks."

New Zealand, meanwhile, saw a five-game winning run ended as they suffered their first defeat since early September.

Ardie Savea admitted that they struggled against France's aggressiveness in the second half, and was disappointed they did not deal with the threat better.

"Extremely disappointed with ourselves not to win the game. We made silly mistakes. We turned the ball over to this French squad, which can punish us and they did. I'm pretty gutted," he told TNT Sports.

"Of course, you [have to credit France in the second half]. We felt like we were in control, and we were pretty accurate in the first half, but in the second half, we let them in the game.

"They applied pressure on us, and we couldn't handle it. Towards the end, we just got stuck in our line and we couldn't do it. I'm extremely disappointed but proud of the boys.

"We didn't hit our targets. We want to win everything, but we couldn't, and that's credit to the French squad, they're a quality side. We have to look in the mirror and see where we could've put the nail in the coffin because we didn't do that."

Gianluigi Donnarumma says Kylian Mbappe's absence will not make Italy underestimate France ahead of their top-of-the-table Nations League clash.

Both teams have already qualified for the quarter-finals, but top spot in Group A2 is still up for grabs.

Italy currently sit top of the pile, three points ahead of France, who they beat 3-1 in early September, but a win for Les Bleus could see them drop to second.

However, for the second international break in a row, France are without their captain, Mbappe, with Didier Deschamps insisting he made the decision to leave the Real Madrid forward out of the squad.

France are unbeaten in their last three games without Mbappe, winning two and drawing one, and though they struggled in front of goal against Israel in a 0-0 stalemate last time out, Donnarumma believes they will still pose a threat to the Azzurri.

"Yes, I don't know about the choices that are made in other squads. I don't know what happened, it's [Mbappe] certainly an important absence," Donnarumma told a press conference.

"I know Kylian, he is one of the strongest in the world and if he was here, he could have troubled us a lot, but there will be other players.

"I know all of them well, they have great quality, strong strikers like [Bradley] Barcola, [Randal] Kolo Muani and [Warren] Zaire-Emery, who play with me. Barcola is an incredible talent, so they have very strong substitutes who can bother us."

Italy are unbeaten in the Nations League, only dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Belgium in October after going down to 10 men.

It comes on the back of a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign in which they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Switzerland, winning just one game in their title defence.

However, Donnarumma believes Italy have found their rhythm again and have more in common with the Euro 2020 winning team.

"It's a healthy group, I'm starting to see the spirit of the old European Championship," he added. "They're all young guys who want to show what they can do, who want to wear this jersey.

"The difficult part is to continue these performances. Our goal now is to continue to improve, work and enjoy ourselves and entertain the fans."

Didier Deschamps says Kylian Mbappe is "going through a period that is not the happiest of his career", which is why he is not included in France's Nations League squad.

Les Bleus were frustrated on Thursday as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Israel in front of a record-worst attendance at the Stade de France.

Despite the disjointed performance, France booked their place in the quarter-final of the Nations League with a game to spare.

However, post-match discussions came back around to Mbappe's absence and Deschamps' decision to leave him out of the squad.

Mbappe has scored eight goals in 15 appearances since joining Real Madrid, but he has hit the back of the net just once in his last six outings. Deschamps reiterated that he believed leaving his captain at home was the best decision for the player during this international break.

"He's not here, so I'll tell you what I already said. Leave him alone," Deschamps said. "I said what I had to say.

"Sometimes it's good not to say too much. There's no sanction. It's factual. He's in a complicated situation, I'm behind him.

"He's going through a period that's not the happiest of his career. Despite everything, he wanted to come. I think it's better for him at the moment. Everyone has the right to have a complicated period.

"There's the physical aspect, the psychological aspect too. There are constant interpretations, whether I speak or I don't speak. So, I'm careful to weigh my words. Either I say something, or I say nothing. I didn't say anything but I'm not going to get into debates."

France dominated against Israel, having 24 shots, eight of which were on target, as they created 2.22 expected goals.

They also had 72 touches in the opposition box, compared to the visitors' two, and 94 final third entries, though they struggled to find a way through a resolute Israel side.

Deschamps was frustrated by the lack of goals in particular and expects to make changes for their final Nations League group stage match against Italy on Sunday.

"I can't be satisfied with what we produced. We should have won. We're capable of doing better," Deschamps added.

"We could have done more against an opponent that was very compact and wasted a lot of time. We had the chances to win, but we weren't efficient enough. There was much more energy in the second half, but we still couldn't score.

"I need to take stock. There will definitely be some changes.

"I'll wait until the final training session on Saturday. Playing three days later is never easy, and there's fatigue, which is normal and not an excuse, but the players' bodies are under strain."

France advanced to the quarter-finals of the Nations League despite being held to a frustrating goalless draw by Israel at the Stade de France.

Israel picked up their first point in Group A2 by producing a stubborn defensive performance against a France team missing Kylian Mbappe following his omission by Didier Deschamps.

Daniel Peretz kept out Randal Kolo Muani and N'Golo Kante in the early stages as France dominated possession, before the visitors missed a glorious chance in the 37th minute.

Dor Turgeman flicked on a free-kick towards the far post, where Raz Shlomo just failed to get a decisive touch in front of a gaping goal.

Ibrahima Konate headed over the crossbar early in the second half, but clear-cut chances were few and far between for Deschamps' disjointed France side.

Their best opportunities to take three points came in stoppage time, but Marcus Thuram headed straight at Peretz before the Israel goalkeeper made a sprawling save to deny Christopher Nkunku right before the full-time whistle.

Despite their failure to find a winner, France secured safe passage to the last eight alongside Italy, with Israel remaining bottom of the group, three points behind Belgium.

Data Debrief: No Mbappe, no joy for France

Having left Mbappe out of their squad for the second successive international break, France struggled in front of goal despite dominating for long periods in Paris.

They fired off 24 shots worth 2.31 expected goals (xG) to Israel's three efforts worth 0.05 xG, hitting the target on eight occasions but failing to beat Peretz.

Dayot Upamecano believes a "lack of gratitude" has been shown towards France team-mate Kylian Mbappe after his latest omission from Les Blues' Nations League squad. 

Mbappe was not included for France's upcoming fixtures against Israel and Italy as a "one off", according to Didier Deschamps. 

The France captain also missed Les Bleus' last two matches, being rested despite his return to fitness in time for the October international break, with Mbappe coming under scrutiny for his absence.

The 25-year-old played the duration of Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Osasuna at the weekend, but was unable to find the target for the fourth game in a row. 

Mbappe has netted six goals in 11 LaLiga appearances since his move from Paris Saint-Germain, but has underperformed his season's expected goals (xG) total by 2.04.

He has also scored 48 goals in 86 outings for his nation, along with helping them claim the 2018 World Cup and 2020-21 Nations League title. 

Despite the recent speculation about Mbappe's absence from the side, Upamecano leapt to the defence of his team-mate and is hopeful for a swift return to the France set-up.

“Am I worried [about Mbappe]? No. You can’t forget what he’s done for the France national team. We lack a bit of gratitude towards him," Upamecano said. 

"I hope to see him again quickly. You can’t forget that he is our captain."

When asked if Mbappé’s absence could be due to physical or mental fatigue, Upamecano expressed understanding for his team-mate’s situation.

“There are many games, and I mentioned this at the start of the season. We’re human, and mental well-being is a big factor for us.

"I won’t go into details, but as I said, he’s our captain, and I hope he’ll be back with us soon. He’s very important to us.”

Luciano Spalletti has made several changes to his Italy squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures against Belgium and France. 

Italy are currently top of Group A2 by a point after four games, and know a win against Belgium next week will secure their place in the quarter-finals of the competition. 

Spalletti was able to name Inter's Nicolo Barella back to his ranks after the midfielder missed the Azzurri's October encounters after undergoing nose surgery. 

Only Alessandro Bastoni, Matteo Darmian (both 38) and Marcus Thuram (57) have won more successful duels than Barella (35) for Inter in Serie A this season. 

However, the Italians will be without defensive duo Riccardo Calafiori and Matteo Gabbia, with the former picking up a knee issue in Arsenal's Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk. 

Spalletti also did not include Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, who was sent off in the 2-2 draw with Belgium last month, or Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli.

Fiorentina's Pietro Comuzzo, Juventus' Nicolo Savona and Lazio's Nicolo Rovella all come into the squad, receiving their first senior call-ups. 

Italy squad in full: 

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, (Paris Saint-Germain), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham), Alex Meret (Napoli); Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Caleb Okoli (Leicester City), Nicolo Savona (Juventus), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham); Nicolo Barella (Inter), Davide Frattesi (Roma), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Nicolo Rovella (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle); Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Daniel Maldini (Monza), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Atalanta). 

Kylian Mbappe has been left out of France's squad for their upcoming Nations League matches, with Didier Deschamps saying it is a "one-off decision".

Mbappe played the full 90 minutes in Real Madrid's 3-1 defeat to Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Deschamps did not say if the forward was injured.

The France captain also missed Les Bleus' last two matches, being rested despite his return to fitness in time for the October international break, with Mbappe coming under scrutiny for his absence.

The 25-year-old has struggled for form as of late, and although he has scored eight goals in 15 appearances since joining Madrid, he has hit the back of the net just once in his last six outings.

"I've had discussions with him, it is a decision that I took for this block of matches only," Deschamps told a press conference on Thursday. "Kylian wanted to come."

Meanwhile, Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has received his first call-up, replacing Alphonse Areola in the squad. There are also recalls for Adrien Rabiot and N'Golo Kante as the injured Aurelien Tchouameni misses out. 

France face Israel in the first of their two games on November 14 before finishing their Nations League Group A2 campaign against Italy three days later. 

France squad in full:

Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Mike Maignan (Milan), Brice Samba (Lens), Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), Theo Hernandez (Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio), N'Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad), Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter).

Though Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz suffered a 3-0 defeat to France in a challenging international friendly on Friday, England-born defender Vyan Sampson shared a measured, optimistic outlook on the team's performance, emphasizing growth over the result.

While the defeat underscored the level of competition Jamaica continues to face at the highest level, Sampson sees the match—which was a repeat of last year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup draw—as a valuable step in the Girlz’s long-term journey to success.

Playing against the 10-ranked team in the world, the 42nd-ranked Reggae Girlz displayed stretches of resilience and competitive spirit, even after two defensive errors forced by France’s consistent forward press resulted in two goals.

Still, the Girlz held their own for the most parts and even created opportunities at the backend of the contest against the technically skilled French side, which got its goals from Clara Mateo (22nd), captain Wendie Renard (39th), and Sandy Baltimore (48th).

Despite the outcome, Sampson, who wore the captain's armband, was quick to note the value of the experience, particularly for a team still adjusting to new recruits and evolving strategies.

“I felt like we gave a good show of ourselves against a very good opposition. We could always do better, but with the short time we were in camp, we had a few things to focus on, and I felt like we gave them a good try. Sometimes coming into these windows, the moment we're looking for is not now; it's further down the line—a year down the line. So as long as we keep making steps every window, taking a bit from every game, we will be where we need to be at the right time,” Sampson said during a post-game press conference.

Sampson pointed to the presence of a few new players, Taylor Hinds, Natasha Thomas, Lulu Jarvis, and Reanna Blades, who are in the early stages of finding their rhythm within the squad as part of Head coach Hubert Busby’s ongoing efforts to deepen the roster.

But integration takes time, and Sampson, one of the more experienced players, understands that the team must be patient in bringing together new and seasoned players.

“It's always good to have new faces, and we're always looking to build the team and improve in every way that we can. The core of the team is still pretty much the same, so it's just about gelling those relationships and building as a team,” Sampson reasoned.

“Every single person in this team matters; anyone the coach selects to come into the fold is worth it, and it’s an opportunity for us to try new things. There were players playing in positions that are not necessarily their strong point, but we have to try these things against good opposition to get better,” she noted.

Busby’s approach since returning to the programme has focused on exposing the Girlz to top-ranked teams, such as Brazil and now France, a strategy meant to prepare them for the intensity and tactical demands of future tournaments.

For players like Sampson, this approach is vital, as it helps the team to improve their speed of play, possession game, and skills to prove more competitive on the global stage.

The 28-year-old, who plies her trade with JEF United Chiba in the Japanese WE League, explained that the team is learning to focus less on individual matches and more on the bigger picture—how each game fits into their long-term goals, as they target a third-consecutive World Cup appearance.

“I felt like I did my best to cover the spaces and cover in for my teammates, but I'm always a critical person, and I always want more. We had a few injuries, a few different changes that obviously changed the outcome of a game, but that’s just football; we don’t look into that too hard; we just make sure we take things from this game and we go from there.

“France is always a good team, but we are not looking at them too tough because we are against ourselves at the end of the day in terms of our journey. So yeah, they are a good team, but there is more to this game for us,” she ended.

Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz fell 3-0 to powerhouse France in an international friendly contest that demonstrated their tenacity as much as it did the defensive lapses at the Stade Auguste-Bonal on Friday.

Facing a French team ranked 10th in the world, the Reggae Girlz showed early cohesion and confidence that hinted at the prospect of another brave performance similar to when they held the same opponents to goalless stalemate at last year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup.

But as the game wore on, France’s unrelenting pressure found cracks in Jamaica’s defence, resulting in two costly errors in the first half that set the tone for a challenging evening.

Clara Mateo (22nd), captain Wendie Renard (39th) and Sandy Baltimore (48th) got on the scoresheet for France, who in all honesty, could have won by a much wider margin.

Despite the result, Reggae Girlz Head coach Hubert Busby emphasized the value of facing elite teams like France.

“Coming up against a really good French team in a really competitive environment was always going to be tough, but I thought overall, as the game went on, the team got better. Again, I think these are the games that we want to play and we have to just keep on building on what we want to do as we head into the next window,” Busby said in a post-game interview.

“When you bring in new players into the group, you can see that they are a little bit disjointed, so the more that we can continue to be together and keep building as a group, the better we'll be. So as of right now, we kind of turn the page and get ready for the next window in Jamaica when we host South Africa. And then we look to build on the, the principles that we've laid this week and look to correct some of the things that we didn't do as well in tonight's match,” he added.

The Girlz showed no signs of being intimidated in the opening minutes, as they moved the ball effectively and kept France’s backline engaged at times.

But as France settled and pressed deeper into Jamaica’s territory, the Girlz’s defence began to struggle under the mounting pressure. The French breakthrough came when Chantelle Swaby attempted to clear, but the ball went astray and into the path of Mateo, who swiftly fired past Rebecca Spencer in goal for Jamaica.

France continued to apply pressure and consistently found gaps in Jamaica’s defence as they created numerous chances which required Spencer to be on her toes. On one of those occasions, the Tottenham Hotspur goaltender got down well in time to parry an effort from Kenza Dali.

However, minutes later Renard eluded Allyson Swaby and Vyan Sampson deep in Jamaica’s 18-yard box and used the full length of her lanky figure to soar high head home Mateo’s weighted corner kick to put France 2-0 up at the break.

Busby, seeing the need for adjustments, made tactical changes in the second half, particularly in the middle of the park, with hopes of getting in behind France’s high defensive line.

Still, the Girlz struggled to contain the French attackers and another defensive mishap saw them fall further behind. This, as Baltimore rifled a left-footer past Spencer after Delphine Cascarino’s cross eluded Tiffany Cameron, who attempted to head clear.

Though three goals down, the Girlz tried to play their game and Jody Brown skipped a defender on a break in the 63rd minute, but her shot was charged down by a second defender.

Five minutes later Kayla McKenna had a grand opportunity to pull one back for the Girlz, but her first touch to get around France’s goalkeeper Constance Picaud in a one-on-one situation was too heavy and the opportunity went begging.

France thought they had another when Renard again headed home from close range, but the goal was called back by VAR for an offside in the build up play.

Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz Head coach Hubert Busby and standout defender Allyson Swaby are confident that the team is ready for the challenge to come against France when the two cross swords in a friendly international at the Stade Auguste-Bonal on Friday.

The contest, which will be a repeat of their 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup clash, is scheduled for 2:10pm Jamaica time.

Whether the 42nd-ranked Girlz will be able to hold their number 10-ranked hosts to another goalless stalemate like they did at last year’s global showpiece is left to be seen.

Still, regardless of the outcome, Busby pointed out that the encounter represents not only a test against a top European side but also a significant opportunity for his team to continue its growth on the global stage, as well as for the newcomers—Taylor Hinds, Lulu Jarvis, Reanna Blades, and Natasha Thomas—in particular to fit in and show that they belong.

“This game is about testing ourselves against the best. Obviously, France is a powerhouse in women’s football, and for us, playing against a team of this calibre will help us assess where we are in terms of our playing model. I think it's important for us to also continue to build on our playing principles so that we can ensure that we're flexible in and out of possession,” he told SportsMax.Tv.

“But I am feeling good about how things are looking so far. The players have responded really well. We had some intense sessions with a lot of information in a short period of time, but they responded well. This is a good group that takes on information and looks to apply, so we look forward to a good game tomorrow (Friday),” Busby added.

Busby emphasized the importance of these international fixtures in building momentum for future competitions, especially as the Reggae Girlz set their sights on qualifying for a third consecutive World Cup in 2027.  

Following this French encounter, the Girlz will lock horns with now number 50-ranked South Africa on November 29 and December 2 in Jamaica.

“Yes, results are always the main thing at senior international play, but the longer-term picture is for us to be successful come next year when we're in our first round of qualifying for the World Cup. I think that's really the main goal is for us to be peaking at that sort of time, heading into those qualifiers,” Busby declared.

“So, the experience we gain from playing these high-profile matches is invaluable. Our goal is to continue improving and competing at the highest level, and these games help us grow and understand what we need to do to close the gap on those ahead of us in particular,” he noted.

Allyson Swaby, one of the team’s most experienced players, echoed her coach’s sentiments.

The central defender, who plies her trade in Italy with AC Milan, believes the Reggae Girlz are more than up for the task.

“I think the team looks good; everyone is happy to be back together first and foremost, and its always exciting when we’re going to play strong opposition. So, I think everyone is just looking forward to a good test and just getting back into the swing of things together,” Swaby shared.

Swaby also noted that the team has grown in confidence over the past few years, especially after their successful World Cup campaign last year, where they contested the knockout round for the first time in the programme’s history.

“It is always good to play against teams like this. I think the group is excited to play France, especially when a lot of us are in mid-season. So, having that confidence of the routine of training day in and day out coming here, I feel like once you’re in your best form, it gives you that psychological edge to compete against teams like this,” she said.

Despite the absence of talismanic striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw due to issues with her passport, Swaby highlighted the depth of the squad, which is a blend of experienced players and new recruits who are eager to make their mark on the international scene.

“It is really important to see that the pool continues to grow; it brings competition to everyone that’s already here, and it expands the reach of the team globally to continue to take players from all across the world to represent Jamaica. So it helps tremendously to get new faces in and keep everybody sharp and competing at all times,” she ended.

Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girl Shania Hayles is brimming with excitement as she makes a long-awaited return to the setup ahead of their highly anticipated friendly international against France on Friday.

Hayles, currently enjoying a rich vein of form with her new club Newcastle United, is eager to make her mark once again for the Reggae Girlz as they continue to build toward greater international success.

The striker, who earns her Jamaican stripes through her grandparents, has always spoken fondly of her deep connection to the island, attributing her decision to parade her skills for the Reggae Girlz to the love and pride she feels for her Jamaican heritage.

“I was excited to come back. Obviously, Jamaica's in my family, my grandparents, which is lovely, so when I got the call, it just showed that all the hard work that I've been putting on the journey so far had paid off,” Hayles said in an interview with JFF media from the team’s base in France.

For Hayles, the decision to play for Jamaica over other potential options came from a place of family loyalty. Born in England, she grew up with stories of her grandparents’ life in Jamaica, and the culture became an integral part of her identity.

Shania Hayles in action against United States during the Women's Soccer Summer Series. (Photo: Alamy)

Now, each time the 24-year-old, who made her Jamaican debut in 2021, pulls on the black, green, and gold jersey, she feels a strong sense of responsibility and pride. Her tree appearances for Jamaica were in the United States Women's Soccer Summer series in Houston in 2021.

“Obviously, it (choosing to represent Jamaica over England) wasn't an easy decision, but my grandparents mean a lot to me and for me, being a role model to other black children out there, that's the big thing for me. I did a lot that last season just so they can see someone like me playing for Jamaica and for my club, and they can aspire to be like me,” Hayles shared.

“Each time I come into camp, it's like family. I felt comfortable as soon as I came here; everyone's so lovely, so it was really nice to catch up with the girls and obviously going back to Jamaica, I went there for the first time for one of my camps and, yeah, it was just unreal,” she added. 

Having recently made a move to Newcastle United, Hayles has quickly settled into life with her new club, where she has been in scintillating form. Her four goals in six appearances so far, including a hat-trick last weekend, have not gone unnoticed, and the forward is keen to carry that momentum into the national setup, especially now expected to lead the attacking line in Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s absence.

Prior to joining Newcastle United, Hayles had a two-year stint with Bristol City, where she tallied 11 goals in 37 appearances.

Hayles celebrates a goal for her club, Newcastle United.

“I think I just had a fresh start from last season, new team, so I had a lot to prove so I just went in with a lot of confidence and I think grabbing the first couple goals early on is always good for a striker because you kind of want to get them first goals. So when I got them, I went on to find a few more. Obviously, getting my hat-trick at the weekend was a proud moment for me because that was the first one in my career, so hopefully I can get a few more this season,” Hayles stated.

“Obviously, scoring goals is a big thing; that's part of my game, so it’s about just being confident and kind of showing what I can do. I think before I probably wasn't as ready as I am now, so coming back in (the Reggae Girlz team), I already feel a lot more confident and I'm just ready to give everything for the team,” she declared.

The friendly against France is expected to be a tough test for the Hubert Busby-coached Reggae Girlz, but Hayles is optimistic about their chances and is eager to contribute. In fact, she is also already looking forward to the two fixtures against South Africa on November 29 and December 2 on Jamaican soil.

“I think you want to play against some of the best national teams, so for me, France is up there. It will be a hard game, a tough game, but it is one I'm looking forward to,” she noted.

 “Even the home games against South Africa, I think, are a big thing. I think when we have the support behind us, it's always a big thing, so I just think, the more support you get, obviously it helps, like the crowd... everything just helps us play well,” she ended.