Five things about France ahead of the European Championship that they will host starting in Group A with Albania, Romania and Switzerland.
MUST READ: Five things you need to know about Albania
MUST READ: Five things you need to know about Romania
MUST READ: Five things you need to know about Switzerland
MUST READ: All you need to know about GROUP A, GROUP B, GROUP C, GROUP D, GROUP E, GROUP F
1) Success as hosts
France have an excellent record as hosts of major tournaments.
They won the 1984 European Championship as the home nation, Michel Platini scoring a remarkable nine times in five games including in the final as Les Bleus beat Spain 2-0.
They won the World Cup as hosts in 1998, beating Brazil 3-0 in the final at the Stade de France.
They also hosted the 1938 World Cup, although on that occasion they bowed out in the quarter-finals, losing 3-1 to eventual winners Italy.
2) Winners in 2000
On the back of their 1998 World Cup triumph, France won the European Championship for the second time in 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Under Roger Lemerre, and with Zinedine Zidane at his brilliant best, Les Bleus beat Italy 2-1 in the final in Rotterdam thanks to a golden goal in extra time by David Trezeguet.
Germany and Spain are the only other coutries to have won the continental title more than once.
However, since that triumph in 2000, France have not won a single knockout round match at a European Championship.
3) Benzema affair
France's build-up to the Euro finals has been overshadowed by the decision to drop star striker Karim Benzema.
The Real Madrid striker is the highest-scoring currently active French international with 27 goals from 81 appearances.
However, he was informed by the French Football Federation on April 13 that he would not be selected as he is under investigation over an attempt to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex-tape.
Benzema, 28, has been accused of complicity in the attempt.
4) Past controversy
Uproar has never been far from the French camp at recent major tournaments.
Their disastrous 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa was overshadowed by striker Nicolas Anelka's dismissal from the squad following a row with coach Raymond Domenech and the squad's subsequent boycott of training at their base in Knysna.
Still with the squad now, Patrice Evra was captain of that French team and was later one of several players banned by the national federation for his involvement in the affair.
At Euro 2012, Samir Nasri became involved in a spat with a journalist and was later handed a three-match ban.
Jeremy Menez was also banned for one game following a confrontation with the referee and with teammate Hugo Lloris during the same competition.
5) Scars
Security has been a common theme in the build-up to the competition after the November 13 attacks on Paris, including the Stade de France during Les Bleus' 2-0 friendly win against Germany.
One bystander was killed when three suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the ground while the match went on.
A total of 130 people were killed and hundreds more injured in attacks around the French capital that night.
One victim was a cousin of Marseille and France midfielder Lassana Diarra while the sister of striker Antoine Griezmann escaped alive after being caught up in a deadly siege on the Bataclan concert venue that night.
AFP
Mon May 09 2016
Euro 2016: Group A - France
Penyerang Kamal Adli dijatuhkan hukuman lebih 2 tahun oleh mahkamah Singapura
Lelaki yang menyerang pelakon Malaysia, Kamal Adli menggunakan belantan tahun lepas, dijatuhkan hukuman penjara dua tahun, empat bulan dan dua minggu.
SPRM jangka ada beberapa tangkapan isu tuntutan palsu anak menteri besar - Azam
SPRM akan membuat beberapa tangkapan lagi, berhubung kes melibatkan anak seorang menteri besar bagi membantu siasatan kes tuntutan palsu berjumlah RM600,000.
SPRM akan panggil beberapa lagi individu bantu siasatan
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) akan memanggil beberapa lagi individu bagi membantu siasatan dakwaan pemalsuan dokumen tuntutan berjumlah RM600,000 melibatkan lima individu termasuk anak seorang Menteri Besar.
Pak Lah stabil, masih perlukan rehat secukupnya
Mantan Perdana Menteri, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dimasukkan ke Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), di sini, pada Rabu setelah mengalami small spontaneous pneumothorax.
Buat masa ini, keadaan beliau dilaporkan stabil dan masih dirawat di Unit Penjagaan Koronari (Coronary Care Unit).
Buat masa ini, keadaan beliau dilaporkan stabil dan masih dirawat di Unit Penjagaan Koronari (Coronary Care Unit).
SPRM tidak pernah henti siasatan kes LCS - Azam Baki
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) tidak pernah menghentikan siasatan berhubung kes pembinaan Kapal Tempur Pesisir (LCS).
Liga Arab gesa UNSC terima pakai resolusi gencatan senjata di Gaza
Majlis Liga Arab gesa Majlis Keselamatan menerima pakai resolusi, di bawah Bab VII Piagam PBB memaksa Israel untuk gencatan senjata di Gaza.
Insiden kecoh ketika pengebumian: Pemandu kereta tertekan hon kerana panik - Polis
Polis menerima laporan seorang pemandu kereta susulan kekecohan ketika pengebumian Komander Muhammad Firdaus Ramli, di Masjid Jamek Sungai Nibong malam tadi.
Isytihar harta: Tun M antara individu yang disiasat SPRM
Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad adalah antara individu yang disiasat SPRM berhubung isu pengisytiharan harta.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Bakal calon disaran isi borang, buat semakan awal - SPR
Bakal calon yang ingin bertanding dalam PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu disaran mengisi borang dan membuat semakan awal.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: KPWKM beri bantuan RM3,000 kepada keluarga mangsa
Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat sumbang bantuan RM3,000 kepada waris mangsa nahas helikopter yang terhempas di Lumut.
10 pemanas badan sebelum sepak mula Euro 2016
10 perkara menarik sebagai pemanas badan untuk anda nikmati sebelum sepak mula Euro 2016 awal pagi esok.
Euro 2016: Spekulasi perpindahan tidak jejaskan Paul Pogba
Bintang utama Perancis di Euro 2016, Paul Pogba, yang kini beraksi bersama Juventus, sedang hebat dikaitkan dengan gergasi Sepanyol, Real Madrid.
EURO 2016: 9 bintang Eropah jadi tumpuan
Euro 2016 bakal membuka tirainya pada 10 Jun ini di Perancis, dengan menampilkan format baru melibatkan 24 negara. Berikut, 9 pemain yang bakal jadi tumpuan.