James Eastham
James Eastham has covered French football for more than two decades. He has written about the game in France for leading publications around the world, and interviewed some of the key figures in the French game, including Kylian Mbappe, Didier Deschamps, and 1998 World Cup-winning manager Aime Jacquet. He has also worked as a recruitment consultant for several clubs in England. In this role, he has attended hundreds of games across France, scouting players at all levels, from the amateur leagues to the national team.
Latest articles by James Eastham

By James Eastham Published
Tournament debutants Georgia are through to the last 16 at Euro 2024 - here's how they got this far

By James Eastham Published
It's FourFourTwo’s Ligue 1 Season Preview: PSG made it a record-breaking 11-in-a-row last season and they’re fancied to make it 12, even without Lionel Messi

By James Eastham Published
Premier League France has proved a fertile hunting ground for Premier League clubs in the past and, as James Eastham explains, there are some intriguing talents being targeted across the channel this month

By James Eastham Published
Premier League From World Cup winners to versatile attackers, James Eastham picks out the finest available players in the French league this summer

By James Eastham Published
Talentspotter James Eastham introduces you to Malcom, Ligue 1's fleet-footed midfielder who's attracting the attention of big clubs across Europe

By James Eastham Published
Ligue 1 James Eastham runs the rule over a handful of France-based stars who could move to England this summer

By James Eastham Last updated
FFT100 The Uruguayan suffered from the domineering presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Paris, but then enjoyed a monstrous 2016/17 leading the line for PSG – and hasn't eased off since

By James Eastham Last updated
Ligue 1 The youngster felt the full force of Lille's wrath on his comeback to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, as James Eastham reports...

By James Eastham Last updated
Ligue 1 James Eastham picks out a handful of France-based stars who could cross the Channel in the winter window

By James Eastham Last updated
Mathieu Valbuena If you’re on the slight side, keep moving to leave the big fellas in a spin, says 5ft 6in Mathieu Valbuena

By James Eastham Last updated
FFT100 Talk about bursting onto the scene: the teenager turned heads across Europe – and became the second-most expensive player in history – with his scintiliating performances in Ligue 1 and beyond

By James Eastham Last updated
France Didier Deschamps' France have caught the eye more than most in Brazil. James Eastham explains how the captain of '98 has lifted the gloom that previously hung over Les Bleus...

By James Eastham Last updated
FFT 50 Managers He's been quietly achieving for a number of seasons, but 2016/17 was the best yet for a manager whose Monaco side toppled mighty PSG and played swashbuckling football en route to a Champions League semi-final

By James Eastham Last updated
World Cup 1990 The Cameroonian icon tells tells James Eastham how he went from amateur football to World Cup legend – at the age of 38

By James Eastham Last updated
Rémy Cabella James Eastham catches up with Montpellier midfielder Remy Cabella to discuss winning the league, those Newcastle rumours and why he's used to dealing with eccentric chairmen...

By James Eastham Published
Ligue 1 With only seven points on the board after 13 games, Les Monegasques are in the Ligue 1 relegation zone and their new manager is suffering. James Eastham gets to the root causes

By James Eastham Last updated
FFT100 An eventful year for the world's most expensive footballer, but for all the right reasons going into a huge 2018 with club and country

By James Eastham Last updated
Dimitri Payet The West Ham playmaker explains the method in his magic, so you too can evade defenders and rack up assists

By James Eastham Last updated
Talentspotter James Eastham chats to Rennes' Liverpool-linked wing man about upping sticks from Cameroon, tearing up Ligue 1 and moving to the Premier League...

By James Eastham Published
Talentspotter The Gunners have made him their record signing in a £72m deal – and James Eastham explains why it might just be money well spent

By James Eastham Published
Unpopular Opinion They ain’t got no history? Au contraire! says James Eastham

By James Eastham Last updated
France They might have a star-studded attack, writes James Eastham, but a defensive migraine is the big issue that’s impossible to ignore...

By James Eastham Last updated
Talentspotter James Eastham assesses why Blaise Matuidi could be the key man for France as they head to Brazil looking for World Cup glory...

By James Eastham Last updated
Clément Grenier The Frenchman has been the subject of longing glances from Newcastle United in the final days of the January transfer window. James Eastham takes a look at one of Lyon's star men...
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