This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.
The plan
“It is a pain to watch, but it makes you win,” is perhaps the most succinct summary of France under Didier Deschamps. The words were Antoine Griezmann’s during Euro 2024 – a competition in which Les Bleus reached the semi-finals. However, goals were hard to come by and in the defeat against Spain Randal Kolo Muani became their only player to score from open play. The other three goals came from the penalty spot or own goals.
Granted, this was France at their most conservative. The boundaries of Deschamps’s approach, it seems, were being tested. The metaphorical handbrake was released during France’s tour of the US in March as his side scored five goals in two games against Brazil and Colombia. During that trip, Deschamps said he wanted his team to be “less predictable and readable”, but would their defensive solidity be sacrificed for attacking flair? “At times, we’ve been a bit on the limit,” he said.
Quick Guide
Sweden: Group I fixtures
Show
16 June v Senegal, New York/New Jersey (3pm local, 8pm BST, 17 June 5am AEST)
22 June v Iraq, Philadelphia (5pm local, 10pm BST, 23 June 7am AEST)
26 June v Norway, Boston (3pm local, 8pm BST, 27 June 5am AEST)
That’s the devil on his shoulder talking. The defence remains the backbone; only four European nations conceded fewer goals than Les Bleus in qualifying, but there is now an array of attacking talent at Deschamps’s disposal, including the captain, Kylian Mbappé, the Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise.
Defender Lucas Hernandez says France have “the best attack in the world” and when you look at the individuals it is hard to contest that claim. Moulding them into something coherent is the challenge for Deschamps and finding the correct formula has been difficult since Olivier Giroud’s retirement from international football in 2024. In the March friendlies, the balance seemed to have been struck, but whether the more expansive prototype will be used is the big question.
The coach
Dider Deschamps has become the gold standard of international management. His conservatism and pragmatism have elicited replication, notably by Gareth Southgate when he was in charge of England. Despite taking France to back-to-back World Cup finals, as well as a Euros final during his 12-year tenure, his approach has regularly drawn criticism. “Watch something else, then,” was his response to such jibes. His success justifies his dogmatism and, given he will step away from Les Bleus this summer, he is not about to change tack now. Having previously had success with Monaco and Marseille, Deschamps is open to a return to club management.
Star player
Kylian Mbappé leads an all-star cast and he remains the main man, as has been the case since he fired France to World Cup glory in 2018. Mbappé has evolved from an electrifying winger to a prolific goalscorer. Now operating as a No 9, France’s attack has been built around him – and for good reason given Mbappé is about to overtake Giroud as the country’s all-time goalscorer.
One to watch
Warren Zaïre-Emery is only 20, but has already experienced his fair share of ups and downs. He scored on his France debut at the age of 17 and was sold as the next big thing. Injuries and a subsequent loss of form meant he fell down the pecking order at PSG and demoted to the France Under-21s. He has bounced back spectacularly. Now a key member of arguably the best club midfield in world football, he seeks a more prominent role with Les Bleus, where he could even be a solution to Deschamps’s right-back problem, as he showed in the Champions League against Bayern Munich.
Unsung hero
Dayot Upamecano has added consistency and composure to his game in the past year. While William Saliba has come in for plaudits for his performances at Arsenal, and is also growing in stature for France, he is massively helped in the national team by Upamecano. The Bayern Munich centre-back, now 27 and in his prime, started all of the World Cup qualifiers bar a dead rubber against Azerbaijan and has kept Ibrahima Konaté on the fringes of the setup.
Probable starting XI
What to expect from fans at games
As has been the case for many fans, pricing has been a deterrent for the French. Nonetheless, up to 1,000 supporters are expected at each match, with about 650 Irrésistibles Francais (IF), Les Bleus’ biggest organised fan group, expected for the opener against Senegal. It is the IF who bring the noise in the stands, albeit their chants can be rather simplistic. “Allez Les Bleus” (“Go the Blues”), “Qui ne saute pas n’est pas Français” (“Those who don’t jump are not French”, which is accompanied by mass jumping) and La Marseillaise, the national anthem, will be on rotation at stadiums.
Relationship with the US/Trump
There were four months between Donald Trump’s first election as president and that of Emmanuel Macron in France in 2017 and the pair initially enjoyed a strong relationship. Recently, however, that has teetered, notably due to disagreements over the war in Ukraine and, more recently, the war in Iran. Trump has criticised France’s reluctance to support the US in Iran and the criticism became personal when he singled out Macron’s wife, Brigitte. “[She] treats him extremely badly,” said Trump, referencing a video from last year in which Brigitte appeared to shove Emmanuel in the face. President Macron replied by saying that Trump’s comments were “neither elegant nor up to standard”.
Written by Luke Entwistle for GFFN.
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