Why France’s Euro 2024 stars are singing a different tune to the right-wingers on the cusp of victory

Emmanuel Macron has been caught between a rock and a hard place after his election gamble backfired. Paul Whitington reports on the reaction in France and its neighbours to the rise of the far right

The French team, many of whom are sons of immigrants, before their match against Belgium in the European Championships. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Paul Whitington

As the anthems were performed before France’s Euro 2024 match with Belgium on Monday evening, emotions ran high when it came time to sing La Marseillaise. While the crowd belted out the rousing song, the players themselves seemed more muted: more than half the team are the children of immigrants, and might have wondered for whom the anthem was being sung, and by who.

The previous night, Marine Le Pen’s far-right party National Rally (RN) had won an unprecedented 33pc share of votes in parliamentary elections. While French elections are done in two rounds, the Rally, formerly the National Front, is now best placed to form a government, with Le Pen’s shiny protégé Jordan Bardella as prime minister. The second round of voting takes place tomorrow.