France national football B team


The France national football B team is a national football team representing France that plays matches at a lower level than the France national football team. In France, the team is usually called "France A–".
The most recent match of France B was on 5 February 2008 against Congo DR in Marbella, the day before the regular A-team friendly in Málaga. The team line-up was Steve Mandanda ; Gaël Clichy, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Philippe Mexès, Bacary Sagna; Jérôme Rothen, Alou Diarra, Samir Nasri, Mathieu Flamini, Jimmy Briand; Djibril Cissé; team members Sébastien Squillaci and Abou Diaby were not used.
The second-most-recent match of the team was played against Slovakia B on 21 August 2007, the day before the regular A-team friendly. The team line-up was Sébastien Frey, Jonathan Zebina, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Sébastien Squillaci, Mikaël Silvestre, Jimmy Briand, Alou Diarra, Lassana Diarra,, Jérémy Mathieu, Djibril Cissé, David Trezeguet; team member Teddy Richert was not used. The match ended 0–1, with France B losing; Jean-Alain Boumsong played on the second day as a last-minute substitution.

Popularity and use

The team runs occasionally as a feeder team for France national football team, to give a chance to under-21 or less experienced players to play for the national team without being awarded a full cap. The team may play matches held before World Cups or other tournaments to give second-choice players, injured players or possible choices an opportunity to play a full game to either keep their fitness levels up or to earn their way into the first team.

Mediterranean Games record

Past players

Player in bold holds senior cap for the A team