What could the future French team look like?

Didier Deschamps has been taking a beating since the start of the Euro, and even more so since the French team’s elimination in the semi-final against Spain. Rightly or wrongly, the debate can go on for hours. However, it is impossible to deny that we were bored watching Les Bleus play during the competition. So, is it only the coach’s fault or is it a lack of level within the squad? Does the coach really have players capable of playing a polished game, and above all, what are the prospects? Let’s take stock position by position.

Goalkeepers

This is the great satisfaction of the tournament. Mike Maignan confirmed all the good things that were already thought of him. Hugo Lloris’ retirement allowed him to play the Euro as a starter, and he held his own perfectly, between valuable saves, serenity in goal and a true leader within the group. He validated his status for the next competitions, but it should be remembered that he is already 29 years old. Similarly, his understudies during the Euro, Brice Samba and Alphonse Areola, are respectively 30 and 31 years old. The future therefore lies more on the side of Lucas Chevalier (22 years old) and Guillaume Restes (19 years old), still a little tender for the A team, but with Maignan for the next few years, tranquility is the order of the day in this position.

The defenders

The most well-stocked sector of the French team, which multiplies interesting profiles. The Upamecano-Saliba hinge was one of the most convincing of Euro 2024. No major errors to deplore, weight in the duels, quality in the relaunches, and overall the main strong point of the Blues during the competition. And they are not alone, since it is teeming with solutions: Ibrahima Konaté, Jean-Clair Todibo, Wesley Fofana, Lucas Hernandez, Axel Disasi, Benoît Badiashile, Presnel Kimpembe if he manages to return, even Castello Lukeba, Mohamed Simakan or even the axial-laterals that are Koundé and Pavard. France has an almost inexhaustible pool in this position, as proven by the recent emergence of Leny Yoro at LOSC (18 years old).

Long a source of concern, the right-back position has finally been secured with talent by Jules Koundé. Intractable during the Euro, despite an adversity raised over the course of the competition (Doku, Leão, Nico Williams), the Barcelona player has extinguished the debate. Behind, Pavard is still there, Clauss will probably no longer be, and we must hope that the hopes embodied by Malo Gusto and Sacha Boey, at Chelsea and Bayern, come to fruition. On the left too, the breeding ground is rather full, with the Hernandez brothers still there for a little while, Ferland Mendy in support, and young shoots like Truffert or Locko.

The environments

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Didier Deschamps, or his successor. Paul Pogba’s lackluster end to his career has done a lot of harm to French creativity. N’Golo Kanté’s return to Euro 2024, successful in the first two matches but much less convincing in the rest, cannot be a solution for the future. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga are the two natural options, especially since they play together in a club. Adrien Rabiot is getting older (29 years old) but will always be available. Behind, it probably lacks consistency.

There are the defensive midfielders that we already know, like Youssouf Fofana, Boubacar Kamara, Mattéo Guendouzi, Jordan Veretout, and the younger ones who will grow in the years to come like Képhren Thuram or Warren Zaïre-Emery. But there is clearly a lack of more creative profiles, like Pedri or Dani Olmo for Spain, Bellingham or Foden for England. Players capable of taking charge of the game, of bringing fluidity and inspiration. Because Griezmann is very much alone in this sector, and he has especially shown that he is at the end of his journey during this Euro. We must therefore look at the Espoirs, and hope that Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche or other Désiré Doué take on an international dimension in the coming years. For the moment, this is not the case. To produce a game, you need technical quality and good ball handlers, and it is clearly this type of profile that is currently lacking in the French selection.

The attackers

France has been generating good wingers for several years. This was not obvious during Euro 2024, between the failed performances of Ousmane Dembélé, the persistent uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappé’s best position, the strange management of the Kingsley Coman case or the little playing time of Bradley Barcola, but these players are there, in the prime of life, and they would be envied by many selections. Behind, it is also pushing, with elements like Michael Olise, Désiré Doué or to a lesser degree now Moussa Diaby.

The real new problem that arises, and which was obvious during the Euro, will be the identity of the future starting number 9 for the Blues. Olivier Giroud is retiring from international football and had not really been used during this last competition anyway. Deschamps juggled between Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani, with an interlude of Mbappé at 9. The first two did not convince, even though RKM was more decisive than his partner. Today, France has a real deficit in this position, more in quality than in quantity. We will have to see to what extent Mathys Tel progresses and asserts himself at Bayern Munich. Aged 19, he remains the strongest French hope to become a world top in this position. There also remains the enigma of Christopher Nkunku, capable of playing up front, but also in support of the striker. A possible path to succeed Griezmann in this role, but his physical fragility has just caused him to miss the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 in quick succession.

If the French defense seems to ensure a bright future, the midfield and the axis of the attack are far from offering obvious and immediate areas for improvement. The coach doesn’t matter. Offering more play, yes, but with what technical means, that is now the question. While Germany can count on a twirling duo Wirtz-Musiala, or Spain relies on Pedri or Dani Olmo at the heart of the game and on Yamal-Nico Williams on the wings, France displays a generational deficit in creation. However, this will not be enough to justify potential future soothing performances…