France’s far right didn’t drop its grudge against Les Bleus. It recast it.

 

France’s far right didn’t drop its grudge against Les Bleus. It recast it.

The phrase is the headline of a prominent analysis by journalist Sasha Issenberg, published in POLITICO. It details how France's far-right National Rally (RN) party has shifted its attacks on the French national soccer team from racial identity and immigration to privilege and elitism.

This rhetorical evolution directly mirrors the party's broader strategy to normalize its image and appeal to working-class voters on its path toward the presidency.

The Old Grudge: Race and Immigration

Historically, the far right viewed Les Bleus as a symbol of multiculturalism that they openly rejected.

• Jean-Marie Le Pen's Attacks: In the 1990s and 2000s, the National Rally's founder notoriously complained that the national team had "too many players of color" and did not look "French enough."
• Targeting Diversity: The squad's diverse makeup—often celebrated globally as a mosaic of modern France—was used by the old far right to stoke anxieties about immigration and national identity.

The New Strategy: Populism and Class Warfare

As Marine Le Pen sought to "de-demonize" the party, blatant racial criticisms became political liabilities, especially given the team's massive success and impeccable representation of the nation. According to sports diplomacy expert Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, it became too difficult to criticize a team that represents France so well. Instead, the rhetoric was reframed:

• Attacking Elitism: Far-right leaders now speak of high-profile soccer stars the way they used to dismiss Paris's out-of-touch, detached elites.
• Targeting Politicians: During France's 2018 World Cup victory, Marine Le Pen targeted centrist politicians like Emmanuel Macron who piggybacked on the team's success, telling him to focus on domestic financial struggles rather than using soccer as a distraction.
• Clashing with Players: This tension spiked during political campaigns, such as when team captain Kylian Mbappé openly warned voters against voting for "extremes" when the far right was at the gates of power.

The Voter Disconnect

Despite these attempts to moderate the party's message, a deep divide remains among far-right voters. According to data from the POLITICO Poll, only 47% of National Rally supporters stated they would feel proud if France won the World Cup. This is the lowest percentage among any of the major French political parties, making France an outlier compared to other European nations where far-right voters are typically the most nationalistic during sporting events