\n\nFrance's national soccer team, known affectionately as Les Bleus, has long served as more than just a sports team; it has mirrored the nation's complex discussions around identity and integration. This role has made it a focal point for France's far-right political factions, particularly the National Rally (RN), formerly known as the National Front. As the party recalibrates its stance from racial identity to broader societal issues like class and economic anxiety, its leaders' rhetoric about Les Bleus has notably shifted.

\n\nHistorically, the far right's critique of the national team began in earnest under Jean-Marie Le Pen, the party’s founder. In the 1990s, as France fielded a racially diverse team, Le Pen infamously criticized its players as "fake Frenchmen," sparking considerable controversy. His daughter, Marine Le Pen, echoed these sentiments as she prepared to lead the party, particularly during the tumultuous 2010 World Cup.

\n\nHowever, as the political landscape in France evolved with the weakening of traditional parties through the 2010s, Marine Le Pen saw an opportunity to reshape her party's image and appeal to a broader electorate. This strategic pivot involved distancing the party from its overtly racist past, exemplified by her public rejection of her father’s more extreme views, and rebranding the party as the National Rally.

\n\nMarine Le Pen's approach to Les Bleus became more nuanced over time. While not an avid soccer fan herself, she refrained from openly criticizing the team's composition or its successes. Instead, she shifted focus to politicians like President Emmanuel Macron, critiquing their use of the team's success for political gain rather than addressing France's pressing issues like security and economic challenges.

\n\nThe party's current stance was highlighted when France clinched the World Cup in 2018. Marine Le Pen criticized the government's failures rather than the team itself, a move that illustrated the party's strategic shift from race-based rhetoric to broader societal critiques. This change is also seen in the context of the Yellow Vest protests, which highlighted widespread economic discontent among the working classes.

\n\nToday, with the presidential elections on the horizon, the RN under Marine Le Pen and her protégé Jordan Bardella continues to navigate its relationship with Les Bleus carefully. While maintaining a critical stance on celebrities and athletes who "lecture" the public on political matters, the RN's leaders are cautious about directly attacking a team that enjoys national and international acclaim.

\n\nThis evolution in the far right’s approach to France’s beloved soccer team underscores a broader attempt to reposition itself within the French political spectrum, aiming to transform its image from a fringe party to a serious contender for the presidency. Whether this strategy will pay dividends in the upcoming elections remains to be seen, but it certainly marks a significant shift in the narrative that has long surrounded France's discussions of nationalism and identity.