France are entering Euro 2020 off the back of finishing as runners-up in 2016 and winning the World Cup in 2018. They have the strongest-looking squad on paper, and have also welcomed back long-exiled Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema to the fold. Despite being in the “Group of Death” alongside Portugal and Germany, Didier Deschamps is expected to lead his side to another final that they are favourites to win. Is France’s success in the tournament almost guaranteed, or will there be a clash of egos among the various superstars in the XI?
France Widely Considered to be Favourites to Win
Few would want to bet against France going all the way in this year’s tournament. They have a wealth of talent in their squad, with players from some of the world’s greatest clubs. Indeed, the squad is littered with quality from the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
France have a recent Champions League winner in N’Golo Kante, and players who have won top domestic honours for their clubs on various occasions in Europe’s most competitive leagues. For this reason, bookies like Marathonbet are offering odds of around 9/2 at the time of writing for France to lift the trophy at the end of the competition.
The Stats Surrounding the Side are Incredible
Aside from looking incredibly strong on paper, the stats surrounding this France team are enough to give their opponents nightmares. One notable fact is that France have never lost a game in which Paul Pogba and Kante have started together in midfield going into the tournament. The combative nature of the latter allows the former to shine, and they are a dream combination in the double pivot. Kante is effective at breaking up opponents’ attacks and quickly recycling the ball into useful positions for his teammates, so he is pivotal in ensuring the defence isn’t put under too much pressure.
France had only conceded nine goals in 13 games since the start of 2020 ahead of the tournament. In that same timeframe, they have scored 29 goals. While they may not have the greatest defence, they do have one of the best goalkeepers in the highly experienced Hugo Lloris. Their attack is so potent that other teams will struggle to deal with them.
Are There Too Many Superstars in the Team?
There is no doubt that it would be considered a disaster for France if they are unable to win the tournament with this team. But there is a chance that the pressure from that could have an effect on performances. There has also been some talk about whether all the superstars in the squad will be able to keep their egos in check. For instance, in the last World Cup, Kylian Mbappe was a breakout player, but now he will consider himself as the main man. The likes of Antoine Griezmann, Pogba, and Benzema also see themselves as the best players in the team.
If France start clicking straight away and Benzema is seamlessly reintegrated, they will be incredible tough to beat this summer. However, there is a small chance that there are just too many superstars in the side, all tussling to be in the limelight. If this happens and they don’t play well as a team, they may face a shock exit.
