There is a strong and almost undoubted sentiment that France is not only a major contender for the FIFA 2026 World Cup title, but Les Bleus quite simply are the ones to beat.Â
In the last two tournaments, France ended as champion (2018) and runner-up (2022) and as Didier Deschamps looks to end his remarkable managerial reign (one of only three managers to win the World Cup as player and manager) this summer, his recently announced 26-man squad is more than prepared to win the third title in its history.Â
But he is not getting carried away.
“I have ambition, and I want the players to have it too,” said Deschamps in a press conference after making the announcement. “But I don’t want us to lose our humility. I’m not going to hide and say we’re not among the teams with the potential to become world championsâ¦but there are eight, maybe 10 teams that can say that. It’s not by shouting: ‘We’re the best, we’re the strongest.'”
Here are my takeaways on France’s World Cup squad:
Deschamp’s level-headedness has made him a successful head coach at the international level and despite my appreciation for his humility, no matter how he paints it, he knows his squad is terrifyingly deep. So much so that some very talented and well-known names failed to make the cut. Will it come back to haunt Deschamps or are the omissions a result of a truly, devastatingly dangerous squad that needed balance, experience and clinical ability in order to go all the way? Time will surely tell. Â
France has such a talented player pool that the nation could have filled out two top-tier World Cup squads. Heads were definitely turned when Eduardo Camavinga and Randal Kolo Muani, two players from the 2022 squad, were left off this time. But there is nothing controversial about Deschamps decision to omit both of these players, regardless of their past with the national team.Â
Camavinga was the only outfield player who didnt start either of the teams friendlies against Brazil and Croatia in March. His season with Real Madrid has been plagued with injuries and inconsistent performances, and you just cant afford to have that kind of campaign and expect to make the French squad.Â
Even more so can be said of Kolo Muani, who has only five goals to his name with Tottenham Hotspur (on loan from PSG) and only one in the Premier League, which was back in February. With the embarrassment of riches on the attacking line (even without the injured Liverpool youngster Hugo Ekitiké), Kolo Muani, if being honest with himself, probably saw this coming. They both did.Â
Despite the individual accomplishments with Real Madrid (leading La Ligas goal standings once again), Kylian Mbappé has had a tumultuous second season with Los Blancos, who once again relinquished the league title to Barcelona and failed to deliver a Champions League trophy, a piece of silverware not yet won by the French captain.Â
Whats worse, the fans are turning against him. On Thursday night, after returning from injury and coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 win against Real Oviedo, he was jeered by his own supporters. The reported friction with manager Ãlvaro Arbeloa (and Xabi Alonso before him) doesnt help so this World Cup probably comes at a great time for Mbappé. Its an opportunity to press the reset button and reclaim the status as the best attacker in the game. He will need to have a strong mindset to help France win a third World Cup title and his second.Â
Who knows, maybe when he returns to Madrid (if?) he will have Jose Mourinho to welcome him as new coach! Whether thats a positive or negative, Ill leave that up to you, esteemed reader. But in terms of France, especially with so many youngsters, Deschamps will need his leader to be at the top of his gameâmentally and physically.Â
France has historically been renowned for two respected exports in the world: exquisite red wine from the Bordeaux region and NGolo Kanté. Both get better with age.
