N’Golo Kante, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe have won the World Cup and Nations League with France. Only the Euros has eluded them (Photo: Metro)
France have the best player, the best players, the best manager and have reached three of the last four major international finals. Surely Euro 2024 is theirs?
Co-favourites alongside England, logic dictates Les Bleus will be lifting the trophy in Berlin on 14 July, but many predicted a similar outcome at Euro 2020, only for poor performances to be punished by a last-16 exit.
If things do go wrong, Kylian Mbappe is on hand to bail them out of course – providing the shining lights of the Bernabeu aren’t distracting him.
On paper and grass, nothing can go wrong. Or is it too good to be true?
Manager: Didier Deschamps
Qatar 2022 was meant to be Didier Deschamps’ final tournament in charge of France but after coming within a penalty shootout of back-to-back World Cups, he extended his contract until 2026.
As a player, the 55-year-old captained his country to World Cup and Euros glory in 1998 and 2000, and has achieved great success during a 12 year stint in the dugout, thanks to great man-management, brilliant tactics and a willingness to make bold and ruthless decisions.
Under Deschamps, Les Bleus have won the World Cup, Nations League and reached the final of Euro 2016 on home soil. You’d put good money on them completing the ‘treble’ in Germany.
Didier Deschamps has been France boss for 12 years (Photo: Getty)
Style of play & starting XI
Deschamps will stick with his well-structured 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 which should allow the forwards to attack with flair while maintaining a solid defence. It’s a system his players are well-ingrained in despite a minor changing on the guard.
Veteran captain Hugo Lloris retired from international duty after Qatar, with new No.1 Mike Maignan guarded by the likes of Dayot Upamecano and Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate yet William Saliba still can’t get in the team despite another awesome season for Arsenal.
After a two-year absence, Chelsea legend N’Golo Kante was shockingly re-called for the Euros but should only be back-up to Real Madrid defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouamni, with Antoine Griezmann once again pulling the strings at No.10.
Skipper Mbappe will be on the left wing, though his teammate on the right may change game-by-game, while Marcus Thuram will start up top ahead of a 37-year-old Olivier Giroud.
France arguably have the best squad at Euro 2024 (Photo: Metro.co.uk)
MVP: Kylian Mbappe
Who else? After sealing his dream of moving to Real Madrid, Mbappe will be aiming to complete a perfect summer by captaining his side to Euros glory.
The 25-year-old was pivotal to the 2018 World Cup triumph and nearly won the 2022 final single-handedly, but his only appearance at the Euros was a disaster, with a missed penalty seeing his country knocked out in the last-16 by Switzerland.
44 goals and 10 assists for PSG this season, as well as 47 goals in 78 caps for France suggests that was a minor blip. The best in the world? Quite possibly…
Kylian Mbappe scored 44 goals in his final season for PSG (Photo: Getty)
One to watch: Warren Zaire-Emery
There aren’t too many new faces in the squad, with Deschamps sticking with his tried and trusted players, but that shouldn’t stop Warren Zaire-Emery from continuing his breakthrough season.
He scored on his international debut in the record-breaking 14-0 win over Gibraltar last November and recorded 10 goal involvements for PSG during the campaign – not bad for someone who only turned 18 in March.
Blessed with strength and smarts beyond his years, he may not be a starter straight away but with midfield perhaps France’s weakest area, he could have a brilliant impact off the bench.
Warren Zaire-Emery scored on his France debut – a 14-0 win over Gibraltar (Photo: Getty)
Route to the final
Drawn in Group D, France begin their tournament against Austria on 17 June before taking on the Netherlands and Poland.
If all goes as predicted, they’ll top the group and should reach the semi-finals with relative ease, where they could well encounter co-favourites England in what some have tipped to be the decisive game of the tournament.
Full squad
France’s 25-man squad for Euro 2024:
Goalkeepers: Brice Samba (Lens), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Alphonse Areola (West Ham)
Defenders: Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Aurelien Tchouamni (Real Madrid), N’Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco)
Forwards: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Bradley Barcola (PSG)
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