- Google wins delay opening Android app store to rivals
- Global markets mixed as investors weigh earnings and China GDP
- Harris targets Trump's age after report of exhaustion
- Guirassy saves Dortmund's blushes against St Pauli
- 'Completely crazy' as Lavreysen wins record 15th world cycling title
- Animal rights activists sentenced for Buckingham Palace fountain protest
- Cuba experiences nationwide blackout after power plant failure
- Sainz puts Verstappen, Norris in shade at US Grand Prix practice
- New Zealand edge West Indies to reach Women's T20 World Cup final
- UK's Lammy warns China over support for Russia in Ukraine
- Global coral bleaching event biggest on record: US agency
- UK activist jailed for dyeing fountain outside Buckingham Palace red
- Relief, anxiety in Israel after Sinwar's killing
- Wawrinka, 39, ousts top seed Rublev to reach Stockholm semis
- Harris, Trump descend on Michigan amid blockbuster early voting
- West Indies' Dottin restricts New Zealand to 128-9 in World Cup semi
- Sinwar's killing boosts Netanyahu but still no sign of war ending
- High court throws Kenya deputy president replacement into disarray
- Father of One Direction star Payne arrives in Argentina
- Guardiola says 'part of me will leave' when Begiristain quits Man City
- 'Timebomb' ship highlights hazard of dangerous cargoes
- France charges SUV driver with murder for running over cyclist
- Ex-Fulham Ladies captain Ronnie Gibbons 'groped' by Al-Fayed
- Italy judges reject first migrant detentions in Albania
- What next for Hamas after Sinwar's killing?
- Postecoglou urges inconsistent Spurs to change perceptions
- UN force says 'widespread destruction' in south Lebanon
- New Zealand on America's Cup cusp after double triumph
- New Zealand's Ravindra makes father proud with 'special' Test ton
- Stock markets mixed as investors weigh earnings, China GDP
- Ten Hag slams 'fairy tales and lies' as Man Utd boss comes out fighting
- Hamas mourns Sinwar, vows no hostage release until war ends
- Forest boss Nuno hit with three-game ban
- 'The killings continue': Sinwar death brings no respite for Gazans
- Gaza 'hell on Earth' for one million children: UN
- Maresca 'very happy' with start of Chelsea career
- New Zealand extends America's Cup lead on Britain
- England boss Tuchel deserves unconditional support: Guardiola
- P&G profits dip, says China recovery will take time
- India fight back after Ravindra ton cements New Zealand lead
- US regulator probes Tesla's self-driving mode after crashes
- Four-month-old baby dies as migrant boat sinks off France
- Kenya parliament backs Ruto's nominated new deputy
- Israel strikes Gaza after killing Hamas chief Sinwar
- Mbappe 'seems unaffected' by rape investigation reports: Ancelotti
- N Korea sending 'large-scale' troop deployment to Russia, Seoul spy agency says
- Global stock markets rise on China hopes
- Lebanon slams 'blatant interference' over remarks attributed to Iran official
- Odegaard nearing Arsenal return, says Arteta
- Women priests secretly ordained in the shadow of the Vatican
Misfiring France lean on brilliant back line at Euro 2024
Kylian Mbappe and France's attack might be misfiring, but a solid foundation can be more important at a major tournament and an outstanding defence has helped carry them to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Les Bleus have scored only three times in four games so far at the European Championship, once from a penalty by Mbappe and twice via opposition defenders, including Jan Vertonghen's own goal which sealed a 1-0 win over Belgium in the last 16 on Monday.
However, France kept a third clean sheet in a tournament in which they have let in a solitary goal, a penalty by Poland's Robert Lewandowski.
"We have been really solid defensively and that is essential at this level," said coach Didier Deschamps after the victory against Belgium in Duesseldorf, which sent France into the quarter-finals for the sixth time in the last seven major tournaments with Portugal up next.
"We have come a long way in that regard. It's not just about defending well, because you also need to use the ball well from the back and we did that. We are doing everything we can to not concede a goal."
France's defensive performance in Germany is remarkable because Deschamps lost two key members of his back line after the 2022 World Cup, when they lost on penalties to Argentina in the final.
Captain Hugo Lloris, who had been the first-choice goalkeeper for over a decade, retired from international football following that tournament along with centre-back Raphael Varane.
Lloris's place in goal has been taken by Mike Maignan of AC Milan, and the 28-year-old has stepped up superbly.
Against Belgium he made three vital saves, including two from Kevin De Bruyne, and even the penalty he conceded against Lewandowski was a retake after he saved the first effort but had stepped a fraction off his line before the ball was struck.
- Saliba earns his place -
The back four in front of Maignan has remained unchanged, with Arsenal's William Saliba and Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano in the middle, Barcelona's Jules Kounde on the right and Theo Hernandez of AC Milan on the left.
"They are top-level players," said Deschamps. "They deserve the credit, but you just need to look at the clubs they play for."
Deschamps also pointed out that this was not even his defence during qualifying, when Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate was a first pick and the likes of Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard also featured.
Saliba may have been outstanding for Arsenal in the Premier League, but his only start in qualifying came away to Greece after France's place at the Euros had been secured.
He has now taken over from Konate and has grown in stature as the games have gone on.
No other team left in the tournament has as impressive a defensive record as France, with Spain having at least let in one goal from open play.
However, few sides have needed to be as strong at the back given France's travails in attack.
"That doesn't put extra pressure on the defence," said Kounde, France's man of the match against Belgium.
"If we are so solid at the back it is because we are working so well as a team."
Deschamps has in the past been criticised for not making a France side full of wonderful talent more exciting to watch.
Yet they scored 16 goals and conceded eight in seven games at the last World Cup.
Their run to victory at the 2018 World Cup featured a 4-3 win against Argentina and the 4-2 defeat of Croatia in the final.
France have shown they can score goals, but might also look to Italy at the last Euros as an example of how defensive solidity can be so important.
Italy did not concede a goal in the group stage in 2021, and let in just four in four matches after that as they went on to win the trophy.
Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is not worried about style as long as France keep winning in Germany.
"It doesn't matter if we score three goals or 15 goals. We are still in the competition," he said after Monday's match.
Ch.Kahalev--AMWN