France are looking to relive and recreate their 2018 World Cup success in the upcoming Euro 2020.
Les Bleus may be one of the favourites to win it all in the said tournament according to the Euro 2020 odds. However, an arduous path awaits them as several powerhouses have emerged in recent years.
Belgium are their biggest obstacle since they’re the top ranked team in the world. But first things first, they must wade through Group F – which is also called as the Group of Death.
Group F presents a huge challenge since France are to be joined by Hungary, Germany, and their bitter rivals in Portugal. All of them are definitely not pushovers so their work will be cut out for them.
Didier Deschamps’ managerial chops are sure to be tested once more. And here at SBOTOP, we examine on how Les Bleus are stacking up as of the moment.
Don’t doubt Didier Deschamps’ winning pedigree
Didier Deschamps seems to have the Midas touch everywhere he goes especially when you talk about his time in France.
The Bayonne-born tactician served France both as a player and as team manager, and the trophies have followed during his time in both capacities.
He was the team captain of the French national team that won their first-ever World Cup in 1998 when they defeated a stacked Brazil squad in the final.
And then two years later, Deschamps also led Les Bleus to win the 2000 UEFA European Championship, beating a loaded Italy team in the final.
Deschamps also had a decorated run in club football – playing as a defencive midfielder for Nantes, Marseille, Bordeaux, Juventus, Chelsea, and Valencia in his 16-year career.
When he was done playing, Deschamps had managerial stints in Monaco, Juventus, and Marseille before moving on to become France’s full-time national team head coach.
Deschamps inherited a disjointed France squad upon his entry in 2012, but he worked his magic right from the get-go – leading them to the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup.
Although they lost to Portugal in Euro 2016, he would eventually get his crowning moment when they won the 2018 World Cup – becoming the third man to win the World Cup both as a player and manager alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer.
France have a stacked deck
Since France is known as a football hotbed, it is inevitable that Didier Deschamps will make some tough lineup decisions. Les Bleus have already submitted their 23-man squad that will represent the country in the Euro 2020.
Kylian Mbappe is a no-brainer alongside Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Olivier Giroud, and N’Golo Kante. Meanwhile, they are well-covered at the back with the likes of Clement Lenglet, Benjamin Pavard, Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandez, and Hugo Lloris at goal.
Ousmane Dembele is being called up once more since representing the country in the 2018 World Cup. He has yet to receive an international cap for France since 2019 until their game against Ukraine in the World Cup Qualifiers last March 25.
Furthermore, Anthony Martial was listed despite incurring a knee injury during international duty last month. But the good news is that his injury isn’t as bad as first feared and he has made significant progress.
Raphael Varane was also listed despite dealing with a strained abductor muscle. Prior to his current knock, the Real Madrid defender just recovered from a calf injury and he hasn’t played a match since mid-March.
With that said, some notable omissions include: Nabil Fekir, Marcus Thuram, Dayot Upamecano, Corentin Tolisso, Houssem Aouar, and Eduardo Camavinga. All of them are elite players in their own right, which further highlights a “good problem” for Didier Deschamps.
All eyes are on Kylian Mbappe
At the end of the day, Kylian Mbappe is the main guy to look out for France. The PSG forward has emerged in recent years as the country’s best player to lead them in the present and in the future.
Mbappe may be only 22 years old but he is already well-established. He has scored 16 goals in 42 appearances for France and he’s only going to get better despite dealing with several injuries in the past weeks.
He is certainly capable of putting up top quality Euro 2020 highlights, which is the main reason why we all see him as a strong contender for the Golden Boot award.
Furthermore, Mbappe will look to add the missing European Championship in his growing resume. And with a formidable roster along with a proven system, France are definitely a team to look out for in the Euro 2020.
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