The French national team came in second place at the 2022 World Cup and boasts an abundance of talent that is truly impressive.
England may have the advantage according to many bookmakers, but France is the team to watch out for in Euro 2024. Despite their loss to Les Bleus in the intense quarter-final match at the 2022 World Cup, Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions couldn’t surpass them. France went on to become the runners-up to Argentina in what is considered one of the greatest finals in international football history.
In comparison to their performance in Qatar, France is arguably even stronger now. Although they suffered defeats in a couple of friendly matches against Germany, they managed to qualify for the Euros without a single loss, despite being in what is arguably the toughest group. Their victories against the Netherlands, both at home and away, were particularly impressive.
While Olivier Giroud may be reaching the latter stages of his career, he will be surrounded by a talented group of attackers, including the world’s best player, Kylian Mbappe, and the versatile genius, Antoine Griezmann.
Furthermore, France is fortunate to have a wealth of young and immensely talented players. However, for the tournament in Germany, they have also chosen to bring back an experienced player into the squad.
So, who are the 25 players that have made it into France’s Euro 2024 squad? Let’s take a closer look…
GOALKEEPERS
Mike Maignan caused a major concern for France when he suffered a thigh injury during warm-up for AC Milan’s Serie A match against Juventus on April 27. However, it is expected that the goalkeeper will make a comeback before the season ends.
As long as Maignan remains fit, he will be the number one choice for Deschamps at the Euros, as he has already proven himself to be one of the top goalkeepers in the world. In fact, he made an impressive save during the qualifiers in Dublin, securing three crucial points for his team against Ireland.
Alphonse Areola from West Ham is likely to be Maignan’s backup, but Brice Samba from Lens, who started in the 3-2 victory over Chile, is also a contender for that position.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Alphonse Areola | West Ham |
| Mike Maignan | AC Milan |
| Brice Samba | Lens |
DEFENDERS
Deschamps has explicitly mentioned that William Saliba has yet to showcase his best performance for France. However, it is highly likely that the Arsenal player will start against Germany, most probably alongside Ibrahima Konate, provided that the Liverpool player remains fit (although this is not guaranteed).
Although Dayot Upamecano is a viable alternative, he is no longer a regular starter at Bayern Munich. This is why the absence of the versatile Lucas Hernandez due to injury is a significant setback, although it is not unexpected. Jules Kounde and Benjamin Pavard are two other options for the center of defense. They are both skilled defenders who are equally comfortable playing as right-backs or in the central position.
In terms of the full-back positions, Theo Hernandez is almost certain to begin on the left side, especially now that his brother Lucas is sidelined due to injury. However, Ferland Mendy, who has experienced a resurgence at Real Madrid, will provide strong competition for the position if he is recalled.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Clauss is a more appealing choice for the opposite flank compared to Kounde. Although Clauss had a poor performance earlier in the season for Marseille and suffered a hamstring injury during the match against Chile, Deschamps has a great deal of confidence in the 31-year-old.
On the other hand, the opportunity has passed for Chelsea trio Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, and Axel Disasi, as they are no longer in contention. Additionally, there is no place in the squad for Jean-Clair Todibo.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Jonathan Clauss | Marseille |
| Theo Hernandez | AC Milan |
| Ibrahima Konate | Liverpool |
| Jules Kounde | Barcelona |
| Ferland Mendy | Real Madrid |
| Benjamin Pavard | Inter |
| William Saliba | Arsenal |
| Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich |
MIDFIELDERS
Deschamps has solidified his preferred midfield trio. Adrien Rabiot has emerged as a crucial player for both France and Juventus in recent years. He will be joined in the midfield by Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, who is expected to recover from injury in time for the match, and the versatile Griezmann, who showcased his intelligence and work ethic as an auxiliary midfielder during Qatar 2022.
Youssouf Fofana and Eduardo Camavinga offer reliable support, while the promising Warren Zaire-Emery is a player to keep an eye on. The talented 18-year-old made history as the youngest player ever called up for a major international tournament by France, and he will be accompanied by the experienced N’Golo Kante, who, despite his age, has earned a surprise recall due to his impressive physical condition while playing for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, according to Deschamps.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid |
| Youssouf Fofana | Monaco |
| Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid |
| N’Golo Kante | Al-Ittihad |
| Adrien Rabiot | Juventus |
| Aurelien Tchouameni | Real Madrid |
| Warren Zaire-Emery | Paris Saint-Germain |
FORWARDS
Despite being 37 years old, Giroud will lead the France attack, primarily because Mbappe, the star player of France, enjoys playing alongside the AC Milan No.9. Nevertheless, Giroud faces competition for his starting position. Marcus Thuram has had a remarkable debut season in Serie A with Inter, and although Randal Kolo Muani hasn’t fully justified his expensive transfer fee, he has impressed against Chile and shares the same club as Mbappe at PSG.
If Kingsley Coman is fit, which is uncertain, he will likely be the preferred choice to play on the right wing instead of the inconsistently performing Ousmane Dembele. Meanwhile, Bradley Barcola has earned his place in the squad after an impressive finish to the season with PSG.
Unfortunately, Christopher Nkunku’s chances of making the trip are dashed due to injuries that have plagued his first season at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Bradley Barcola | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Kingsley Coman | Bayern Munich |
| Ousmane Dembele | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Olivier Giroud | AC Milan |
| Randal Kolo Muani | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Marcus Thuram | Inter |
EXPECTED XI
Maignan is the definite choice in defense, however, it would come as a surprise if Saliba doesn’t get the nod – despite competition from Pavard. Konate is expected to partner him in the center, especially with Lucas Hernandez sidelined.
Theo Hernandez is the top choice for the left-back position and notably featured in both group games against the Dutch. The right-back position is still up for grabs. Currently, Deschamps seems to prefer Clauss over Kounde, who struggled against Chile, but Pavard is also in contention.
Despite Kante’s return after a long absence, the midfield trio is likely to consist of Tchouameni, Rabiot, and Griezmann, with the latter given the freedom to push forward and support Giroud. Captain Mbappe and the returning Coman are expected to provide width on the wings.
France XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Clauss, Saliba, Konate, Theo Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot, Griezmann; Coman, Giroud, Mbappe.
NOTABLE ABSENTEES
Lucas Hernandez suffered a devastating ACL tear less than two months before the Euros, during PSG’s Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park. Meanwhile, Boubacar Kamara, the back-up midfielder, faced the same injury in February.
Nkunku’s chances of being selected were also affected by ongoing fitness issues. According to Deschamps, “He has recovered but has not played a match since returning from injury. He could have been chosen, but we have many attacking options.”
Aston Villa’s Moussa Diaby narrowly missed out on a spot in the squad, losing to Barcola. The tournament may have come a bit too early for Crystal Palace’s promising forward Michael Olise.
Matteo Guendouzi was a last-minute addition for the March internationals but did not make the final squad. Paul Pogba, who has 91 caps and played a crucial role in the 2018 World Cup victory, will also not be part of the team due to a four-year ban for a failed drug test. At 31, there is a real possibility that he may never represent his country again.
| Name | Club | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Axel Disasi | Chelsea | Not selected |
| Matteo Guendouzi | Lazio | Not selected |
| Malo Gusto | Chelsea | Not selected |
| Lucas Hernandez | Paris Saint-Germain | Injury |
| Boubacar Kamara | Aston Villa | Injury |
| Christopher Nkunku | Chelsea | Not selected |
| Michael Olise | Crystal Palace | Not selected |
| Paul Pogba | Juventus | Suspension |
| Jean-Clair Todibo | Nice | Not selected |
