FRANCE made a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Austria.
Didier Deschamps’ side scored the decisive goal in the first half as talisman Kylian Mbappe’s dribble and cut-back was turned into his own net by Max Wober.
But there are concerns surrounding Mbappe heading into their crunch clash with Holland after he broke his nose late on against Austria.
The Frenchman, who has 47 goals in 80 games for his country, has been fitted with a mask for the rest of the tournament.
It remains to be seen whether he will feature against the Dutch on Friday night.
But one thing that is not in doubt is how the France badge will look on Les Bleus shirts.
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Why is there a cockerel on France’s badge?
In the Middle Ages, the “Gallic Rooster” was used as a figure of hope and faith in religious circles.
During the Renaissance period it then began being associated with France.
The Revolution led to the rooster being used as a representation of the French identity.
Napoleon then replaced the rooster with the eagle, saying: “The rooster has no power, he cannot be the image of an empire the likes of France.”
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In 1830, the rooster was re-established and the Duke of Orleans signed an order stating it be used on flags and uniform buttons of the National Guard.
Increased patriotic sentiment during World War I saw the rooster become a symbol of “resistance and bravery” in opposition to the Prussian eagle.
In modern France it now signifies peasant origins, pride, courage and prolificacy.
It is still not an official symbol of the country, but represents a certain idea of France.
In sport, the rooster has become a well-known French symbol.
France Euro 2024 guide
FRANCE are the one nation all England fans are truly afraid of.
They are many punters’ favourites after knocking the Three Lions out of the 2022 World Cup and will be hoping to do much better than at Euro 2020, when they lost to Switzerland in the last 16.
MANAGER: Didier Deschamps
Coming up to 12 years in the job, the only thing missing from his CV is a European Championship.
STAR MAN: Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe’s PSG may have underachieved on the European stage but he remains France’s most deadly threat, with a World Cup trophy and a World Cup final hat-trick to his name.
How France attack
Expect to see France play in a fluid 4-3-3 – which becomes 4-2-3-1 in possession – throughout the tournament.
Giroud acts as the focal point in the attack with the two wide players and Griezmann as No 10 supporting.
How France defend
We can expect to see France defend high with an emphasis on winning back possession as far up the pitch as possible.
France will stagger their defensive shape when the opposition are in possession.
Read the full France Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups, odds and Wags.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
