Mbappé Leads a France Full of Experience and Youth
Two generations, that of veterans like N'Golo Kanté or Antoine Griezmann, survivors of the victorious World Cup in Russia, and that of young promises like Bradley Barcola or Warren Zaïre-Emery, coexist in France's proposal to face the Euro, captained by the figure of Kylian Mbappé.
The runner-up of the world, who came close to adding a second consecutive World Cup in Qatar, has the thorn of the Euro, because it is a competition that they have not won since 2000, without their performances having been up to the level of a team that wants to make history since then.
That means making a good impression in Germany, where even the coach, Didier Deschamps, admits that they arrive as favorites, both because of the squad and the trajectory of recent years.
In this, the last Euro remains as a blot, in which France ended their journey in the round of 16, leaving a trail of disappointment that turned into hope in the last World Cup.
During this period, the team has had to deal with the retirement of some of its most emblematic players, such as Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Paul Pogba, or Karim Benzema.
Mbappé serves as a link between them. He was one of the essential elements of France's victory in 2018, despite being only 19 years old, he led the "bleus" again in 2022 at 23 and now, at 25, with the captain's armband, he is once again their main standard-bearer.
Between veterans and emerging promises, Mbappé and his praetorian guard emerge: Ousmane Dembélé, Randal Kolo Muani, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, or the starting goalkeeper, Mike Maignan.
It is now up to them to take the next step forward with the complement of the veterans who have decided to continue and with the contribution of the youngest.
Among the former, Griezmann stands out, a key piece in Didier Deschamps' setup, the man who translates the coach's idea onto the field, who has made him his favorite player, the most used one.
The Atlético de Madrid player has only missed two games since 2017 and chained 84 consecutive ones before a injury in March broke the longest streak with France, with whom he is also the player with the most assists.
By his side, Deschamps has decided to rescue Kanté, the lung of the France that was crowned champion in Russia before an injury deprived him of the World Cup in Qatar and whose experience now seems decisive to solidify the midfield, an essential element in the coach's scheme.
Olivier Giroud, France's all-time leading scorer, is the other veteran survivor of the World Cup in Russia, where Dembélé, Benjamin Pavard, and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola were also, although with a lesser role then or now.
Defense is the line where the most renewal has taken place. The emergence of players like Jules Koundé, Ibrahima Konaté, Theo Hernandez, or Upamecano has given a new boost to the line, where the absence of Lucas Hernández due to injury has favored the return of Ferland Mendy.
In midfield, Deschamps has known how to refresh the lines with the confirmation of Adrien Rabiot and the fresh contribution of Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga, to which is added the new blood brought by Zaïre-Emery, 18 years old, author of a great season with PSG.
The coach has included Griezmann among the midfielders, as if confirming the new role that the "colchonero" had in the last World Cup, where he acted as a link between the creation zone and the attack.
In the forward line, Mbappé's figure attracts all eyes, with Dembélé and Giroud as main supporters, although France has other weighty assets, such as Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram, Kingsley Coman, or Barcola, who had never been called up for the national team before and, at 21 years old, will experience a Euro for the first time.
