Euros: France news, fixtures, manager, key players, Euros record

James Wilson Updated: 09 Jun 24 13:05

France will go to Germany this summer in desperate pursuit of a long overdue third European Championships crown.

Euros winners in 1984 and 2000, this summer's showpiece in Germany will mark France's sixth participation in the competition since they last won it, a barren run which is surprising given the strength of French sides during this period.

Indeed, the last time France won the Euros in the Netherlands in 2000 Les Bleus were captained by current manager Didier Deschamps.

Runners-up in the 2022 World Cup and world champions in 2018, France will go to Euro 2024 as one of the clear favourites.

France Euro 2024 fixtures

Austria v France - Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf, 17th June, 20:00 GMT.
Netherlands v France - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, 21st June, 20:00 GMT.
France v Poland - Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, 25th June, 17:00 GMT.

France Euro 2024 squad

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens).

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), N'Golo Kante (Al Ittihad), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain).

Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan).

France manager

Didier Deschamps

Taking charge of France shortly after Les Bleus' elimination from the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 at the hands of eventual winners Spain, Didier Deschamps is now a vastly experienced manager at international level.

Falling short in the final of a home Euros in 2016 with Portugal prevailing 1-0 after extra-time, Deschamps became just the third man ever to win the World Cup with his country as a player and a manager two years later in Russia - after Mario Zagallo of Italy and Franz Beckenbauer of Germany.

Deschamps came close to guiding France to back-to-back World Cups in Qatar in 2022, with Argentina overcoming the French on penalties in the final, and the ex-Marseille and Juventus midfielder will be hungry to get his hands on an elusive Euros trophy this summer.

France captain

Kylian Mbappe

An iconic figure in French football and part of the World Cup-winning side of 2018, Kylian Mbappe was named as the replacement for Hugo Lloris as the national team's new captain in March 2023.

Still only 25, Mbappe has already racked up over 70 caps for his country and is already hot in pursuit of Olivier Giroud's all-time goalscoring record.

The undoubted star player of this French side, Mbappe is capable of carrying Les Bleus on his back as Deschamps' side go in search of a first Euros triumph in almost a quarter of a century in Germany this summer.

France key players

Antoine Griezmann

The vice-captain of this France team, Antoine Griezmann has enjoyed an outstanding international career with Les Bleus since making his debut in 2014.

Capped well over 100 times by his country, Griezmann was another integral member of the French side which were crowned world champions in 2018, and was equally as influential four years later when France were beaten on penalties in the World Cup final by Argentina.

At 33 years old Griezmann is not getting any younger, but his terrific performances at the Qatar World Cup two years ago suggested he is a player who has continued to improve with age.

Aurelien Tchouameni

An impressive performer in France's midfield as Deschamps' charges made it all the way to the final of the Qatar World Cup two years ago, Aurelien Tchouameni has enjoyed a strong club season with Real Madrid this term.

Fast developing into one of the top defensive midfielders in Europe, Tchouameni will bring a calmness and solidity to this France side which is littered with attacking talent.

Not only adept at breaking up the play and controlling the tempo of possession, Tchouameni can also pop up with long range goals himself - as demonstrated in the World Cup quarter-finals against England two years ago.

Theo Hernandez

The full make-up of France's defence for this summer's Euros appears unclear at this stage with a wealth of options at manager Deschamps' disposal, but one player who seems destined to be a first pick is left-back Theo Hernandez.

First choice for Les Bleus at the World Cup in 2022, Hernandez has been terrific for Milan in Serie A in recent seasons.

A full-back who is extremely dangerous going forward, Hernandez has scored at least four Serie A goals in each of his five domestic seasons as a Milan player.

France one to watch

Warren Zaire-Emery

A young player who looks destined to be a France mainstay for years to come, central midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery has made over 20 Ligue 1 appearances for Luis Enrique's PSG this term.

Trusted by Enrique to start matches on the Champions League stage, with the Parisians making it to the semi-finals of this year's competition, Zaire-Emery has also been fast-tracked into the senior France team by Didier Deschamps.

A defensive-minded midfielder with boundless energy and terrific technical quality, Zaire-Emery is expected to receive game time for Les Bleus at the Euros in Germany this summer.

France All-time Euros record

Year	Performance
1960	Did not qualify
1964	Did not qualify
1968	Did not qualify
1972	Did not qualify
1976	Did not qualify
1980	Did not qualify
1984	Champions
1988	Did not qualify
1992	Group stage
1996	Semi-finals
2000	Champions
2004	Quarter-finals
2008	Group stage
2012	Quarter-finals
2016	Runners-up
2020	Round of 16

France's Euro 2024 prospects

With a star-studded squad led by one of the best players on the planet in the form of Kylian Mbappe, France will quite rightly go to Germany as one of the favourites to win the Euros.

A team with a number of World Cup winners in its ranks, none of which have ever won the Euros, anything other than coming away with the trophy this summer is likely to be deemed a failure for Les Bleus.