Afrosport takes a look some interesting facts and details about France as they prepare for their Euro 2024 campaign in Group D.
Nickname
Les Bleus (The Blues)
Brief history
France are considered one of the best national teams in the world having won all international titles available including the FIFA World Cup, Euros, UEFA Nations League and FIFA Confederation Cup.
This has been made possible with a host of top players, some of them considered the best in their generation. These include Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram, Michel Platini, Patrick Vieira, Didier Deschamps, Laurent Blanc, David Trezeguet, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann among many others.
Number of Euros appearances
France will be heading for their 11th outing at the Euros and have reached the final three times.
They have been at every tournament since 1992 and have hosted it four times, including the maiden edition in 1960 where they finished fourth.
Best Euro achievement
France have been champions twice in 1984 (on home soil) and 2000. They were close to winning it again on home soil in 2016 but lost the final in extra time to Portugal, making it the first time they reached the Euro finals but failed to win it.
Best Player
Kylian Mbappe
The 26-year-old of Cameroon heritage is considered one of the best players in the world at the moment.
His electrifying pace and dribbling skills make him a nightmare for any opposition defence and he will be one of the key players to look out for in Germany after which attention switches to his Real Madrid move.
Mbappe is the current France captain and has 47 goals to his name, 10 shy of current leading marksman Olivier Giroud who is in the squad.
