France edged their way past Belgium on Monday evening to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. After their disappointment in the World Cup in which the French team reached the final and lost on penalties and their discontent at being knocked out in the round of 16 in the last Euros tournament, this French side will be looking to capture another international trophy.
Yet who are the key players for this team and who are many looking towards to have a significant impact on this squad?
It’s no secret that world class player Kylian Mbappe is the one we all look to when we try to grasp the sheer footballing brilliance that is France. He has easily stepped into the shoes of the French greats such as Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry by turning up in finals and important games to drag France to victory.
No one will forget one of the greatest finals of our generation, where Kylian Mbappé stood up against his then PSG teammate Lionel Messi’s Argentina and scored a hat-trick to try and see France lift the World Cup.
In similar fashion, Kylian Mbappe is looked at as the French beacon of light. The Eiffel Tower of dreams that will hopefully twinkle over the French nation come the 14th July.
His experience, despite being only 25, and effortlessness as a footballer is a prize possession to France and Didier Deschamps. This time round the striker wears the arm band, leading by example. It is not only his incredible goal scoring record that makes him a joy to watch but his ability to cause chaos in any moment of the game if he sees fit. For club and country he is an unstoppable force who performs on every stage. This Euros will mark Kylian Mbappe’s fourth international tournament with France at the top level and he will surely do all he can to clinch another trophy for his country.
In the otherwise tame 1 - 0 win over Belgium, Mbappe was a catalyst for most of the good things France did. Whilst he didn't score their first open play goal of the tournament, the new Real Madrid man was a constant threat to Belgium, coming close once in each half.
On the other hand, Arsenal defender William Saliba cannot say the same for his features in international tournaments.
The young defender was one of the best in the Premier League last season, his team keeping the most clean sheets (16). He played every minute for Mikel Arteta’s red army and many managers praised him for his impeccable performances. Yet Didier Deschamps was unsure of him, even going as far to say ‘he does things I do not like’ in a press conference when referring to the world class centre back.
Yet after a considerable amount of pressure, Deschamps has chosen to play Saliba and since starting for France he has kept Ibrahim Konate of Liverpool out of the team. In a time which France has seen one of their greatest centre backs in recent times retire in Raphael Varane, the hunt to find someone suitable to fill his role is always daunting.
In truth, Deschamps has the likes of Bayern Munich’s Upamecano & Liverpool’s Konate to consider. If he truly wanted, he could ask Real Madrid’s Tchouameni to cover that position but William Saliba has emerged as the obvious choice, and since starting Saliba regularly the French haven't conceded from open play.
Whilst his counterparts have had rough seasons for their clubs due to injury and poor performances, he has flourished as a mature and reliable centre back. So much so, that when played as a left sided centre back, which is unfamiliar territory for Saliba, he has made it look easy and made many French fans question Upamencano on his performances. This Euros is a major opportunity for him to prove how incredible and indispensable he truly is.
When he was young he played alongside Kylian Mbappe and soon enough he found himself as a North Londoner despite a few loan spells and now he has emerged as one of the best young talents in the world.
Both of these players will strive to achieve the maximum this summer. As players of the favourite nation, they have the fortune of experience and pedigree on their side but even that is not enough.
Kylian Mbappe himself has expressed how hard the Euros is, even stating that he feels it is harder to win than a World Cup. For William Saliba, he will wish to be his best in every game in hopes of retaining his starting position and being a key player for France. Overall, France need both of these players to perform to have a chance at victory. The goals, leadership and quality defence is the key to winning a European Championship after all.
Les Blues take on Portugal on Friday in a repeat of the 2016 final, which Portugal won 1 - 0 on French soil in extra time. France will have to reverse this fortune if they are to meet Spain or Germany in the semi-final.
