Favourites France encounter Austria at Euro 2024 with on-field statement in mind

France launch their bid for a second European crown against Austria on Monday night. This comes amid controversy over political statements emanating from the squad selected for championships in Germany.

"I think you simply have a sense of priorities. The game against Austria is very important. I've said many, many times that it's very important. Now, there's a situation that's much more important than the match," French skipper Kylian Mbappé told reporters on Monday.

France, who are second in the Fifa world rankings, go into the game against the 25th placed Austrians – as the team to beat.

They lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout in the World Cup final in Qatar and qualified for the European champions serenely from Group B with a draw and seven wins – including a 14-0 annihilation of Gibraltar – in which Mbappé hit a hat trick.

The 25-year-old, who has scored 47 times in 79 appearances for his country, is expected to be one of the stars of the tournament as he attempts to burnish his reputation ahead of his new life at Real Madrid following seven years at Paris Saint-Germain where he became the club's record goalscorer.

Political concerns

In the prelude to the Group D encounter at the Düsseldorf Arena, Mbappé urged young people in France to discard their characteristic apathy and vote in the impending parliamentary elections on 30 June and 7 July in order to stop what he called the extremes at the gates.

Read more on RFI English

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