EURO 2024 Team Guide - Group D - France
Armed with newly appointed skipper Kylian Mbappe, Didier Deschamps aims to become the first to win both the World Cup and EUROs as a player and a manager - Callum Murray talks us through their chances
Country:
France
FIFA World Ranking:
02
Qualification Record:
1st Place
W7, D1, L0
Goals For – 29
Goals Against - 3
Group:
Group D
Highest Ever Euros Finish:
Winners (’84, ’00)
Previous Euros Appearances:
10
Top International Goal Scorer (in Squad):
Olivier Giroud (57)
Squad:
Final Squad:
Goalkeepers: Brice Samba (Lens), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Alphonse Areola (West Ham)
Defenders: Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)
The Gaffer:
Didier Deschamps (Appointed: May 2012)
Gaffer Bio:
Deschamps started his professional footballing career back in 1985 with Nantes, staying there for four years before transferring to Marseille. There he won two league titles and the UEFA Champions League (the only French club to win it to date), becoming the youngest captain ever to win the UCL. His playing career spanned across the continent to Italy, England and Spain. Known as ‘the water carrier’, he made over 550 club appearances, winning five league titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues and two domestic cups.
Internationally, he made 103 appearances for Les Bleus, scoring four goals. First called up in the late ‘80s, it was not the greatest period for French football, failing to qualify for the World Cup in ’90 and ’94, but Deschamps solidified himself as one of the important elders in the team during the mid ‘90s, eventually captaining the side to win the World Cup in 1998 and Euros in 2000; they were the first team to do this since West Germany held both titles in 1974.
After retiring from playing, Deschamps turned his hand to management, taking the reins at Monaco where he had some real success, winning the Coupe de Ligue in 2003 and leading the club to its first ever UEFA Champions League final in 2004. Leaving The Red and Whites in 2005 after clashes with the club’s president, Deschamps – for the first time – returned to a club he had played for and found himself at the helm of then-disgraced Italian giants, Juventus. It was very much an up-and-down period for him, though he managed to lead the club back to Serie A, having won Serie B, before resigning at the end of said campaign.
After a couple of years out of management, he returned yet again to another club he had played for, this time becoming manager of Marseille in 2009. In his first season, he lead Les Olympiens to their first Ligue 1 title in 18 years and for the next three seasons won the Coupe de Ligue. At the end of the 2012 season, he once again resigned from his post, after a poor mid-table finish.
This resignation, however, did allow him to take up the coveted position as manager of the national team. In July 2012, Didier Deschamps was appointed as France national team manager, following the resignation on Laurent Blanc. His first tournament unfortunately ended at the quarter final stage in Brazil, however did point towards a possible exciting future for the French national side, with young stars like Paul Pogba hinting at the next ‘Golden Generation’ for Les Bleus.
Euro 2016 saw France narrowly beaten to the championship in extra-time, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Portugal in the final, but lit a fire in the belly of Deschamps, who knew he was on the verge of something and had to be precise in his selection for the 2018 World Cup. Omitting Karim Benzema sparked national debate, however Deschamps was proven right, winning the coveted trophy after a 4-2 win in the final against a strong Croatia. This victory made Deschamps the third person ever to win the World Cup both as a player and manager, after Zagallo and Beckenbeur.
Euro 2020 was less successful, crashing out in the round of 16, but Deschamps bounced back with a masterful campaign in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, where France were unfortunately beaten on penalties by a Messi-led Argentina. He will be trying to avenge that final loss this time around and go all the way in a major tournament.
Who Could Do with Him?
Given his relative success at both club and international level, it would possibly be nice to see Deschamps try his hand in the Premier League. He has the experience of handling the big names and making big decisions, and a playing career than many couldn’t match. I could see an ambitious mid-placed team in the Premier League possibly making a move should Deschamps become available in the summer.
Formation / Style of Play:
4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1
Deschamps has been criticised in the past for conservative tactics, though seemed to pick between an attacking 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 during the qualifiers, with both having great success.
Against stronger offensive opposition, you may see Deschamps play it more safe and opt for the 4-2-3-1, but in games he wishes to blow his opposition away, he may go with an all-out 4-3-3, utilising the world class attacking threat he has at his disposal.
Out of possession, Deschamps will likely deploy a low-mid block to frustrate the opponent, and will prioritise having a solid defence. The front players will be asked to press with intensity, with the central midfielders holding the fort. In possession, they will want to get it forward quickly to allow for their creative talents to work their magic in the final third, with Mbappe staying wide, and the likes of Griezmann picking up dangerous spaces in between the lines.
Strengths:
One of the main strengths of this current French team is the balance they now appear to have between a solid defence and clinical attack. In what was touted as possibly the hardest qualifying group, they were tough to play against, conceding just three goals whilst scoring a whopping 29. A 4-0 win against the Netherlands was testament to the squad Deschamps has pieced together.
We also of course cannot ignore the fact that they have one of the most exciting footballers on the planet lining up for them in Mbappe. He could easily win games – and possibly the trophy – by himself if he finds form in a tournament that he has struggled in so far.
Weaknesses:
There are not too many weaknesses to pick from in this France team. If we had to pick something, the squad selected is rather on the younger side, and we will have to see how they react to being at a major tournament.
In the latter part of last year, they were of course beaten by Germany – the hosts of this summers’ tournament – which may not be something to just sweep under the carpet.
Player to Watch:
Kylian Mbappe -
The soon-to-be Real Madrid star will be leading Les Bleus in his fourth major international tournament. Off the back of a World Cup final hat-trick, Mbappe will be looking to make his mark on the Euros, a competition in which he is yet to score a single goal. All eyes will be on the forward who has had somewhat of a turbulent season at club level, and will want to start this new chapter of his footballing story with a summer to remember. He will have the bit between his teeth.
A golden boot contender.
One for the Future:
Warren Zaire-Emery –
The 18 year old Paris St Germain defensive midfielder, born and raised in the suburbs of Paris, is an exciting addition to the squad. Only making his senior international debut in November 2023, he has made just two appearances going in to this summer. Months before his senior call up, though, he was made the youngest ever captain of the U21 national team by manager Thierry Henry. Zaire-Emery has made over 50 appearances for PSG and is highly thought of; a young player with great technical ability and defensive nous, he reads the game well and is mature beyond his years. It could be the first international tournament of many.
Unlucky to Miss Out:
Michel Olise –
On his day, Olise is arguably one of the most exciting and technically gifted players in the Premier League. Skilful, confident, deadly with set pieces and an eye for goal, Olise has put in some amazing performances for Crystal Palace this season, and seemingly hit form just at the right time. An inspired star-of-the-show performance against Manchester United in the back end of the season could have sealed the deal for the winger, but it would appear to have possibly been just too late.
He will consider himself unlucky to miss out and would have relished the chance to test himself on the big stage. Palace fans may be happy for him to sit at home as to not draw too much attention from Europe’s elite, though I’m sure it is just a matter of time before he makes his big move to a top side.
Likely Line Up:
Maignon; Hernandez, Konate, Upamecano, Clauss; Tchouameni, Rabiot, Griezmann; Mbappe, Giroud, Dembele
Fixtures:
Matchday 1 – Austria vs France – 17th June
Matchday 2 – Netherlands vs France – 21st June
Matchday 3 – France vs Poland – 25th June
Verdict:
Having picked up near maximum points in the qualifiers, France will want to hit the ground running in Germany with a big win against Austria, before playing a tougher opponent in the shape of the Netherlands on matchday 2, who they met in qualifiers.
France have a squad with a combined market value of over €1.2b, is stacked with stars and are the highest ranked European team in the world. They will fancy their chances and are one of the outright favourites for good reason.
If things go to plan for both nations, France could see themselves up against rival-favourites England in the semi-final, with the Three Lions fighting to overturn their quarter-final upset in Qatar; this may just be France’s undoing. However, if they do manage to advance, I believe they win the lot. The advantage of having players who’ve experienced a major international final in the last few years may just be the difference on the day, and they will not want to let this one slip through their fingers. In doing so, the gaffer would become the first person to win both the World Cup and European Championship as a player and a manager. Allez Les Bleus.
Callum Murray