TEAM

FRANCE

GROUP: D

PLAYER TO WATCH: Kylian Mbappe

EXPECTED FINISH: Finalists

France Fixtures

Having qualified for as winners of Group B, two-time European champions France will compete in Group D of the tournament. Having suffered a round of 16 exit at the hands of Switzerland in 2020, the French will be looking to assert themselves as the best team in Europe again, after also agonisingly missing out on World Cup glory just two years ago.

In Group D France will come up against the Netherlands, who won it all the last time the European Championships were held in Germany back in 1988. The clash with the Netherlands will be a familiar one, with the two nations have recently competed against with one another in Group B of qualifying for this very tournament. France ran out winners on both occasions, going on to top the group, and so seemingly have the edge over the Dutch going into the competition.

Also in Group D are 2008 co-hosts Austria, who are competing in their third consecutive championships. Having qualified as Group F runners-up, the Austrians will be looking to build on 2020’s round of 16 appearance – their best at a European Championships to date.

Rounding off the group is Poland, appearing here following a dramatic penalty shootout play-off win over Wales. In their fifth consecutive championships, Poland will be hoping to go further than their competition best – a quarter-final appearance in 2016.

France’s Group D fixtures in full:

Austria vs France: 17th June (Dusseldorf Arena)
Netherlands vs France: 21st June (Leipzig Arena)
France vs Poland: 25th June (BVB Stadion)

Should France win Group D they will face the runners-up from Group F, meaning they could face Turkey, Georgia, Czech Republic or 2016 champions Portugal. Should they finish runners-up, they will play the second-placed team from Group E (either Belgium, Slovakia, Romania or Ukraine).

Standings

Venues

Key players

France are one of the heavyweights of European and world football. As 1998 and 2018 World Cup winners, as well as European champions in 1984 and 2000, the French have a rich history of success in major tournaments. Their current squad is well-equipped and packed with world-class talent. Here are some of their players to watch out for during the tournament:

Kylian Mbappe

Caps (goals): 77 (46)

Position: Forward

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

One of the world’s greatest players, Kylian Mbappe is rapidly closing in on a half-century of goals for Les Bleus and is already the country’s third-highest scorer of all-time at just 25.

The PSG forward has notched more than 40 goals this season, his final one at the Parc Des Princes. His hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final couldn’t bring glory home for France but a fit and firing Mbappe can give defenders nightmares as they chase a third European Championship win.

Olivier Giroud

Caps (goals): 131 (57)

Position: Forward

Club: AC Milan

Ageing like a fine wine, Olivier Giroud is 37 years of age now and still playing at the highest level. His 15+ goals this season for AC Milan show that the striker is still capable of turning it on, while his 57 goals for France put him clear as his country’s record goalscorer – six goals ahead of the great Thierry Henry. With 131 caps, he ranks third on the all-time appearances list for France and he will be hoping to add a European Championship to his 2018 World Cup win in what could be his last major tournament.

Ousmane Dembele

Caps (goals): 43 (5)

Position: Winger

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

Winger Ousmane Dembele is one of the most exciting attackers in football and will be looking to make his mark on the championships following a disappointing end to his 2022 World Cup – a half-time substitution in the losing final effort. His transfer from Barcelona to PSG last summer has seen him help the Parisians clinch the Ligue 1 title as well as progress into the semi-finals of the Champions League. Despite injury troubles, he is one of the most dangerous points of attack for club and country and will be looking to not only add to his 43 caps this summer but his five goals too.

Warren Zaïre-Emery

Caps (goals): 2 (1)

Position: Midfielder

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

The new kid on the block, Warren Zaïre-Emery became the youngest-ever goalscorer for PSG and the youngest player to start a Champions League knockout game at the age of just 16. Now 18, he wrote his name further into the history books as the youngest Frenchman to record a Champions League assist this season when he put in the cross for Lucas Hernandez’s header against Newcastle United. Two assists a fortnight later made him the youngest player to have three Champions League assists to his name. On the international scene, Zaïre-Emery made his debut in a qualifier against Gibraltar, scoring in what was a record victory for the national team as they ran out 14-0 winners. This summer will be his first major tournament and he will be looking to make a further name for himself by helping his country to European glory.

Previous performances in the Euros

France have enjoyed success in the European Championships, winning the tournament twice and reaching the semi-finals on three occasions. Here are their performances in full:

1960: Fourth (lost 2-0 to Czechoslovakia third place play-off)
1964: Did not qualify
1968: Did not qualify
1972: Did not qualify
1976: Did not qualify
1980: Did not qualify
1984: Winners (beat Spain 2-0 in final)
1988: Did not qualify
1992: Group stage (bottom of Group 1)
1996: Semi-finals (lost to Czech Republic on penalties)
2000: Winners (beat Italy 2-1 in final)
2004: Quarter-finals (lost 1-0 to Greece)
2008: Group stage (bottom of Group C)
2012: Quarter-finals (lost 2-0 to Spain)
2016: Runners-up (lost 1-0 to Portugal in final)
2020: Round of 16 (lost to Switzerland on penalties)

Expectations

After a disappointing tournament last time out, France bounced back at the 2022 World Cup by making the final and will be looking to go one better here in Germany.

With some of the world’s best talent at their disposal, France will need their standout players to shine to navigate a tricky group and try to win their first European Championship in 24 years. The loss of defender Lucas Hernandez to injury will be a blow but, with more than able deputies, Les Bleus will surely be able to live up to their billing as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

Odds and player information correct at time of publication but subject to change