When Emmanuel Macron paid a visit to the French national football team before their departure to Russia for the World Cup, he had a few words of advice that were inspired by his own electoral feat.
“You will have moments of doubt. Stay united. Work hard. Be self-confident and restore confidence,” the French president told les Bleus (as the team is known) ahead of the 20th anniversary of France’s first, and only, World Cup win. To reporters gathered outside, he added with a wink: “A competition is meant to be won.”
No pressure, les Bleus — you were lectured by a man whose first attempt to become president was successful. But Mr Macron was not just implicitly boasting about his election; he was also sending the message that a victory would look good for France, and thus for him. He would be able to claim he helped a little, because such an outcome would support his narrative that “France is back”.