Try GOLD - Free
France's jewel in crown: The age of Mbappe
The Morning Standard
|June 30, 2026
THESE days, France is generally accepted as football's greatest talent production factory.
Every other street in Paris may claim to have a future international. It wasn't always like this.
When the country failed to qualify for the 1988 Euros, the Federation Francaise de Football quietly moved their centre of excellence from Vichy to Clairefontaine (think of it as their BCCI's centre of excellence but for football). An hour's drive from the capital, the federation also made the move to bring kids not yet teenagers.
Within a few years, Thierry Henry, a future global superstar, enrolled as a child. Twelve years after Clairefontaine took off, France had won the World Cup and the Euros. Since then, their residential programme has birthed and given wings to the dreams of many French kids.
When this daily spoke to Julien Sokol (team manager at Ligue Un club Lyon), a former scout for the club, it was apparent that he revered the establishment.
This story is from the June 30, 2026 edition of The Morning Standard.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Morning Standard
The Morning Standard
Solver gang busted in Bihar, 15 in police net
THE Bihar Police on Monday unearthed a solver gang and arrested 15 individuals, including its members, candidates, teachers and the superintendent of an examination centre in Khagaria district when they were trying to manipulate the Bihar Police Radio Operator recruitment examination.
1 min
June 30, 2026
The Morning Standard
Nabin interacts with T'gana tribal leaders
FOR the tribal groups' administration in their jungle (forest), the BJP government worked for their wish and the end of the Naxals in the country, stated the BJP National President Nitin Nabin.
1 min
June 30, 2026
The Morning Standard
EVs priced up to ₹30L to get road tax relief
THE Delhi government on Monday approved a new EV policy under which all electric cars with an ex-showroom price of up to 30 lakh registered in the national capital will be exempt from 100% road tax and registration fees.
1 min
June 30, 2026
The Morning Standard
Forensic team visits rise by 32%
Police investigation teams examined crime scenes 24,500 times between Jan 1 and May 31.
2 mins
June 30, 2026
The Morning Standard
France's jewel in crown: The age of Mbappe
THESE days, France is generally accepted as football's greatest talent production factory.
2 mins
June 30, 2026
The Morning Standard
46.52L voters unmapped in K'taka
Special Intensive Revision commences from June 30, shows data from the office of CEO.
2 mins
June 30, 2026
The Morning Standard
HC cancels bail to accused in Janakpuri school rape case
THE Delhi High Court on Monday cancelled the bail granted to a 57-year-old private school caretaker accused of raping a three-year-old girl on the institution's premises in west Delhi's Janakpuri. The judge directed the accused to surrender by July 1.
1 min
June 30, 2026
The Morning Standard
HC refuses 'stay on digging' to polo association after Centre's possession
THE Delhi High Court on Monday said a stay order could not be granted after the Centre had taken possession of the 15.20acre Jaipur Polo Ground in the Race Course area.
1 min
June 30, 2026
The Morning Standard
Girls' hostel policy gender-biased: Students
STUDENTS of Jamia Millia Islamia have described the university's renewal procedure for residents of its girls' hostels as a \"newly introduced, genderbiased\" policy, alleging that it imposes additional requirements and disproportionately affects women residents only.
1 mins
June 30, 2026
The Morning Standard
No CM face for Punjab Cong in Assembly polls
NO leader in the Punjab Congress will be projected as the party’s chief ministerial face for the 2027 Assembly elections, with the high command opting to strike a balance between Hindu and Sikh leadership while avoiding internal rivalry.
1 mins
June 30, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size