Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele are set to spearhead a formidable French attack in the upcoming World Cup, as manager Didier Deschamps unveiled his 26-man squad on Tuesday. The announcement, made ahead of the summer tournament, features a blend of seasoned World Cup winners and exciting new talent, aiming to replicate or surpass their previous final appearances.
Squad Dynamics and Key Selections
Mbappe, with 56 goals for France, stands as a leading figure, expected to captain the team despite recent injury concerns. He is joined by Dembele, who enjoyed a successful season with Paris St-Germain, winning the Champions League and becoming only the second French player this century to win the Ballon d’Or. However, Dembele is yet to score in a World Cup, a statistic he will be eager to change.
The attacking lineup is further bolstered by the inclusion of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and PSG’s Desire Doue, alongside Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki. Seven Premier League players feature in the squad, including Arsenal defender William Saliba.
Only Lucas Hernandez and N’Golo Kante remain from the triumphant 2018 World Cup squad, highlighting a generational shift. Deschamps, who has guided France to two consecutive World Cup finals, has made several notable omissions that have sparked debate.
Notable Absences and Deschamps’ Rationale
Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Tottenham’s Randal Kolo Muani, both part of the 2022 squad, have been left out. PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier also misses out, with uncapped Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser earning a spot alongside Brice Samba as back-up to Mike Maignan.
Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike, sidelined by an Achilles injury sustained in April, is a significant but anticipated absentee. Deschamps emphasized the squad selection process is about team balance rather than simply picking the 26 best individual players.
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