UEFA Euro 2024 Team Previews: France
UEFA Euro 2024 is just weeks away from kicking off in Germany. Over the next 17 days, we will be previewing each team that will be taking part in Europe’s biggest football tournament. Check out all of the team previews that have been done so far. Up next is France.
What else is there to say about France? The 2018 FIFA World Cup Champions and 2022 FIFA World Cup Finalists have arguably the deepest player pool in the world and many people have them marked as favorites for a reason. Les Blues cruised through qualifying, winning seven out of eight games in a group that also included the Netherlands, Greece, Ireland, and Gibraltar. They only dropped points in one game, a shock 2-2 draw with Greece in their final qualifying game.
Euro Appearances
This will be France’s 11th European Champions appearance. The first came in 1960, and France has now made an appearance at every Euros since the 1992 edition. Recently, the French made the final during the 2016 tournament, which they hosted, and fell to the Swiss in penalties in the 2020 Euros.
Best Finish at the Euros
France has won two Euros: one in 1984 when they were the hosts and another in 2000. They have made the semifinals five times in their 10 previous appearances as well.
Key players
Kylian Mbappé is the guy for France. Arguably the best player in the world, he also has 46 goals in 77 international appearances for the national team. He shows up in big games, as shown by his hat trick in the 2022 World Cup final, and expect the French to rely heavily on him as they chase their first European Championship in 24 years.
While Mbappé is the cream of the crop for France, the depth of the French team is what makes France the powerhouse that it is. Players like Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud provide goal-scoring prowess and experience up front while players like Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga will manage France’s midfield. Benjamin Pavard, William Saliba and Jules Koundé will be key members of the French backline.
Keep an eye on who starts for France in goal. AC Milan’s Mike Maignan is the French number one now that Hugo Lloris has retired from the national team and is enjoying retirement with LAFC, but with a couple of recent injuries, there is a question mark on the goalkeeping position for the French. If Maignan is not fit in time, either Brice Samba or Alphonse Areola will wear the gloves for France when they open up play June 17.
Manager
Didier Deschamps is a legend for the French as both a player and a manager. He made over 100 appearances for Les Blues during his playing days, captaining the French sides that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 European Championship.
After becoming France’s manager in 2012, he has also found a great deal of success, winning the 2018 World Cup and reaching the final of both the 2022 World Cup and the 2016 Euros. He is missing a Euros victory from his C.V. and will be hoping to be able to add it after this summer’s tournament.
Biggest Group Game – vs Netherlands on June 21
This is a heavyweight matchup that will likely determine who wins Group D. France should feel confident about this one, especially after defeating the Dutch twice during qualifying. However, the Netherlands has a very capable squad and this should prove to be the decisive match for the French in the group stage.
Prediction
It is hard to pick against the French right now. As mentioned earlier, the French have arguably the deepest player pool in the world and have arguably the best player in the world in Mbappé. If the French are on, no one will be able to beat them. While anything can happen, I see the French winning their group and then winning their first Euros since 2000.
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