Les Bleus

The France national football team (French: Équipe de France de football) is colloquially known as Les Bleus (The Blues). The team represents France in men’s international football and is controlled by the French Football Federation, also known as FFF, or in French: Fédération française de football. The team’s colours are blue, white and red, and the coq gaulois its symbol.

France was the first national team to win the three most important men’s titles recognized by FIFA: the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, and the Olympic tournament after victory in the Confederations Cup in 2001.

France play their home matches at the Stade de France. Located in Saint-Denis, a Parisian suburb, the stadium has an all-seater capacity of 81,338.

Prior to matches, home or away, the national team trains at the INF Clairefontaine academy in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines. Clairefontaine is the national association football centre and is among 12 élite academies throughout the country.

The France national team utilizes a three colour system composed of blue, white and red. The team’s three colours originate from the national flag of France, known as the tricolore.

France normally wear blue shirts, white shorts and red socks at home (similar setup to Japan), while, when on the road, the team utilizes an all-white combination or wear red shirts, blue shorts, and blue socks.

France is often referred to by the media and supporters as Les Bleus (The Blues), which is the nickname associated with all of France’s international sporting teams due to the blue shirts each team incorporates. The team is also referred to as Les Tricolores or L’Equipe Tricolore (The Tri-color Team) due to the team’s utilization of the country’s national colors: blue, white, and red. France earned the nickname the “Brazilians of Europe” mainly due to the accolades of the “carré magique” (“Magic Square”), who were anchored by Michel Platini. Led by coach Michel Hidalgo, France exhibited an inspiring, elegant, skillful and technically advanced offensive style of football, which was strikingly similar to their South American counterparts.