France U23 used as pathway to senior side, focus on maximum international exposure | OneFootball

France’s U23s are being used as a proving ground for the seniors, with players moving both ways and international exposure prioritised.

According to L'Équipe, the U23s gather on the same FIFA dates as the Bleues and are led by Fabien Lefèvre within a six-strong staff. He selects squads with Laurent Bonadei and youth lead Sabrina Viguier. This camp includes 23 players, with up to five permitted over the age limit, which is why 2000-born Magou Doucouré is involved.

Called early in Hervé Renard’s tenure in 2023, Doucouré later drifted from contention as her career stalled. After a strong run with Hamburg this year, she has been monitored and brought into the U23s to gauge progress since three years ago.

Bonadei is tracking the 2006 group who reached the Euro U19 final in June, which has already propelled Wassa Sangaré and Anaïs Ebayilin to the A team. Left-back Lou Bogaert, omitted from the last two senior camps, gained minutes with the U23s against the Netherlands, a 2-0 win in November, then England, a 0-1 loss in March.

Nantes midfielder Julie Swierot is sampling the international level before perhaps stepping up. Bonadei considers her close, yet with two games against the Netherlands on Tuesday and Saturday, he felt this was not the time to experiment as the Bleues face their main World Cup qualifying rival.

Since October, France’s U23s have played six matches with a balanced return, two wins, two draws and two defeats. Performance is secondary, with individual plans and alignment to the seniors’ playing and living frameworks taking precedence.

They beat Scotland 1-0 in Murcia on Sunday and will meet the United States or Denmark on Thursday in Pinatar, Spain. Lefèvre often uses his whole squad across two-match windows, the aim is to expose players to the highest possible international standard.

Source: L'Équipe