England and France are gearing up for the European Championship quarterfinals at the same time as elections are being held in their home countries.
One national team doesn't talk politics – while the other is happy to speak out.
We've seen the results, it's a disaster, says Kylian Mbappé about the first round of the French election.
After the loss in the EU election in June, France's President Emmanuel Macron, to many people's surprise, called for new elections in the country.
On Sunday – two days after France's European Championship quarterfinal against Portugal – it's time for the decisive second round of the parliamentary election. In the first round, the far-right party National Rally became the largest party with just over 29 percent.
The French national team's big star Kylian Mbappé has previously spoken out and said before the European Championship premiere that the election is more important than the match.
We've never seen anything like this before, and that's why I really want to address the entire French people, and especially the young. We are a generation that can make a difference. We see that extremism is knocking on the door to power, but we have the power to shape our country's future, he said according to The Guardian.
"It's really urgent"
Now Mbappé is talking politics again.
At a press conference before the quarterfinal against Portugal, the newly signed Real Madrid player is once again urging the population in his home country to vote.
It's really urgent. We've seen the results, it's a disaster. I hope it changes and that everyone goes out and votes and votes for the right people, he says according to AFP.
Even teammates Jules Koundé and Marcus Thuram have previously spoken out politically during the European Championship. Koundé said according to AP that he is "disappointed to see the direction our country is taking."
Politics among the French players – but much less politics among the English. The UK is going to the polls on Thursday. But the English players are not particularly keen on talking politics right now.
A politics-free zone, says defender John Stones according to AP about the English training base.
"Something they keep to themselves"
Much suggests that the parliamentary election will end with a big win for the social democratic Labour Party, while the conservative Tories are expected to lose and thus lose power after 14 years. Labour leader Keir Starmer is expected to become the new prime minister in the country.
What the English players think and believe? It remains unclear.
I'm sure it's something that will be brought up later tonight, but I don't know what they're voting for. It's something they keep to themselves, says Manchester City player Stones.
Friday at 18.00: Spain-Germany (Stuttgart).
Friday at 21.00: Portugal-France (Hamburg).
Saturday at 18.00: England-Switzerland (Düsseldorf).
Saturday at 21.00: Netherlands-Turkey (Berlin).
