Didier Deschamps has set up his French side in many ways during the last international break. He dropped a bombshell a few days ago by including Real Madrid star Karim Benzema after a six-year hiatus from the international setup. This could be hinting at a possible 4-2-3-1 with Benzema leading the line or even a 4-4-2 with Benzema joining Griezmann in a two-man attack.
Probable starting Lineup: Hugo Lloris; Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandez; N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba; Kingsley Coman/Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe; Karim Benzema.
Defence: France can boast of having a lot of quality centre backs in their squad. The likes of Clement Lenglet and Jules Kounde are great backups to have. The competition for a starting berth has forced someone of Aymeric Laporte’s quality to change his nationality. This speaks of how strong their backline is. The Bayern full back duo of Pavard and Hernandez are well equipped to deal with any danger on the flanks. Hugo Lloris will be the perfect man to bank on if the French defence is penetrated on the odd occasion.
Midfield: N’Golo Kante will be at the heart of France’s midfield. He has been one of the main reasons why Chelsea find themselves in the Champions League final. He will be partnered by Paul Pogba who turns into a different beast when he dons the French jersey. In Rabiot and Tolisso, Didier Deschamps has decent replacements if an injury strikes during the tournament. Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele and Thomas Lemar will be vying for the role of a wide midfielder in this side.
Attack: Despite their defence and midfield being very strong, France’s biggest strength lies in their attack. The addition of Karim Benzema has given their attack a new dimension altogether. The trio of Griezmann-Mbappe-Benzema is as lethal as it gets in the current international football scene. Moreover, Olivier Giroud is always there if needed. The Chelsea striker is the second highest top scorer in France’s rich history. Wissam Ben Yedder, who has been fantastic throughout the last two seasons for Monaco, is also a part of the squad.
