EURO 2024 TEAM GUIDE - France: Kylian Mbappe leads Didier Deschamps' star-studded side - but can Les Bleus get over their recent European Championship hoodoo?

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As the runners and riders are weighed up ahead of Euro 2024 this summer, there are few teams with more quality, experience and knowhow across their playing and coaching staff than France. 

Alongside the likes of England, Portugal, Spain and Germany, Didier Deschamps' side are one of the favourites to go all the way when the tournament gets underway on June 14.

An embarrassing exit from Euro 2020 in the last-16 to Switzerland has been sandwiched by a first and second place finish at two World Cups and they are certainly not a team to be taken lightly.

A defeat to Germany and narrow win against Chile in the March international break proves France are human, but the depth of talent all across the pitch, including captain Kylian Mbappe, is a scary proposition for any opposition side.

Mail Sport takes you through everything you need to know about Les Bleus, including how they qualified, their history in the tournament and which stars to look out for.

France head into Euro 2024 this summer as one of the favourites to win the tournament

Didier Deschamps' side have won the Euros twice, but exited at the last-16 stage back in 2020

Who is the manager? 

Didier Deschamps 

Approaching his 12-year anniversary as France boss, there aren't many coaches at Euro 2024 who can boast as much international experience as Didier Deschamps.

The Frenchman led Monaco, Juventus and Marseille before he took over his country in the aftermath of Euro 2012.

Deschamps has been in charge ever since and the former midfielder has 98 wins in 151 games which demonstrates France's position at the top of world football during his tenure. 

Two runners-up and one winners medal from five major tournaments also shows the 55-year-old knows exactly what he's doing when the pressure is on.

Didier Deschamps is approaching 12 years as France boss and has won 98 of his 151 matches

Who is their star man?

Read More

France name squad for Euro 2024, with captain Kylian Mbappe leading Les Bleus and key midfielder recalled after TWO years away

Kylian Mbappe 

Who else but Kylian Mbappe? 46 goals in 77 caps has the forward well on his way to becoming France's all-time record goalscorer at the age of 25.

Never mind all the speculation surrounding his future this season, Mbappe still netted 44 times in 48 games and he was often rested by Luis Enrique during the latter stages of the campaign as the PSG boss planned for the future. 

Although he has 12 goals in 14 World Cup games - which saw him win the Golden Boot at the 2022 Qatar World Cup - Mbappe is yet to score in a European Championship.

With the 25-year-old joining Real Madrid next season, Mbappe will want get that monkey off his back and head into a new chapter of his career in the best possible way.

Few would bet against him starring in Germany, especially after netting nine goals in eight qualifying games. 

With 46 goals in 77 caps, Mbappe is well on his way to becoming France's all-time top scorer

How did they qualify? 

Unsurprisingly, France romped to Euro 2024 with ease as they won seven and drew one of their eight qualifying games.

Les Bleus scored 29 goals and conceded just three, two of which came in a 2-2 draw with Greece when Deschamps put out a heavily-rotated side. 

France also secured two impressive victories against the Netherlands, which will stand them in good stead for another showdown in Group D in Germany.

They similarly asserted their dominance with a record 14-0 win against Gibraltar.

France romped to Euro 2024 with ease as they won seven and drew one of their eight games

Fixtures (all UK times)

France vs Austria - Monday June 17, 8pm at Dusseldorf Arena

France vs Netherlands - Friday June 21, 8pm at Red Bull Arena, Leipzig

France vs Poland - Tuesday June 25, 5pm at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund

Les Bleus beat Netherlands twice in qualifying and they will meet again in Group D in Germany

Tournament history 

Despite being one of the most decorated international teams in history, France's recent record in European Championships has been slightly underwhelming in relation to their usual standards.

Les Bleus are two-time winners of the competition, although their last triumph came in 2000.

Meanwhile, apart from picking up runners-up medals at a home Euros in 2016, France have failed to get past the quarter-finals of the competition since 2000. 

However, Deschamps' side have had no such problems in World Cups, lifting the trophy in 2018 before they lost on penalties in the final to Argentina in 2022. 

France suffered an embarrassing exit to Switzerland at the last-16 stage of Euro 2020

Odds to win the trophy 

4/1 - odds provided by Sky Bet. Odds are correct at the time of publishing. 

Provisional Squad 

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

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

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

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (PSG, until June 30), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan)