Few countries enter major tournaments with a stronger combination of proven brands and up-and-coming talent than France. Didier Deschamps has spent more than a decade building a team that can compete at multiple levels, and the depth available to him is one of the main reasons why Les Bleus continue to be considered one of the favorites in North America.
Mike Maignan provides protection in goal, while William Saliba, Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano form the backbone of a defense full of high-performance activities. Between games, Aurelien Tchouameni continues to grow into one of the most popular players in European football, with the help of the ever-present N’Golo Kante.
The attacking options remain very dangerous. Kylian Mbappe is the headliner, but he is supported by Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki, ensuring that France have a diverse portfolio that can change matches in different ways.
Their opening win over Senegal was far from flawless, but it did reinforce a familiar theme about Deschamps’ teams. Although France are not at their best, they manage to control the match at the right time and with a good team.
