Snivy, Piplup (the 2 most popular picks it seems) and Scorbunny, rather than say Litten or Chimchar. French like soccer too and there's quite a few French breeds and Folklore.
Thing is all 3 of these are already obvious France picks. It might make more sense to pick something thats specifically not French and add the french/paris redevelopment period references in to the design. Not that these couldn't be double frenchfried with new archetypes.
I've seen people saying its too soon for gen 8 starters but Legends Arceus had Rowlet at the time so... I don't think thats right.
Guess I'll theorycraft cause its fun
Snivy: Grass/steel/rock: La Gargouille (snake to serpent/dragon/bat gargoyle seems reasonable?), might even get a Notredam vibe in it.
stats: 75/100/90/67/85/111
1 New move: Stone storm (or steel storm), 100 atk, physical, 100 acc, lowers Atk by 1, Increases defense. (might be bad in game without the hidden ability?)
New ability : Hardening Scales: each time a stat is lowered, that stat is reduced by 1 less, also gets +1 defense. (eg leaf storm, s.atk -1, def +1, stone storm is just +2 defense).
Could be bulky but that doesn't really help its poor mid defense being melted. I wonder how cracked body press would be?
2 Piplup: Water/Fighting, Lancelotesque archetype added to the napoleon thing, straight up give it a lance from its wing, why not.
stats: 84/106/88/86/97/71
New move: Gallant lance: "slash" attack priority +1, 50 atk physc, fighting, doesn't connect, does half damage through protect/detect.
New ability: just sharpness,
Bulky and strong enough immediate strength. With Roost it could be fun to pressure defensive mons.
3 Scorbunny: Fire/Dark, Yeah Arsene Lupin, what else could it be? Little charming robber lop bun, that does some soccer on the side. Bonus points or flaming Monacle. Might even get some Loup, were-rabbit stuff in too, with some horned hare stuff to look a little "dark".
stats: 80/80/75/106/75/114 (Cinderace was so hyper-optimized for a starter I ended up nerfing it).
New move: Mug shot, shoots a dark energy ball that switches the user's item. Atk 50, special dark. (straight boost to switcheroo). Will be fun to choice band with. High skill ceiling.
New ability: Disguise, pre-nerfed Libero, but maintains the dark type when it changes type. Having an obvious fairy/fighting weakness should be a decent alternative nerf to being stuck with only 1 change per switch.
Could keep court change for utility. Locking foes with choice band and switching with U-turn to come in later to help clean up is nice. The lower power limits it from being very overwhelming like old Cinderace though. Not a lot of synergy, keeping the multi-change libero is better for offense rather than utility, especially since it will have consistent weaknesses.