Walking into the press box after Rory McIlroy’s shocking 71-78 performance at the recent tournament, I couldn’t help but reflect on how even the world’s finest athletes can have days where everything falls apart. McIlroy lost more than 10 strokes to the field—statistically, the second-worst mark of his entire career. That kind of collapse, while rare for a player of his caliber, reminds me of the razor-thin margins in elite sports. It’s precisely why I’m so fascinated by team dynamics, especially when it comes to a squad like the French national football team. As someone who’s covered football for over a decade, I’ve seen how a single off-day from a star player can ripple through an entire lineup. So today, I want to dive into France’s current roster, unpacking not just the names on the sheet but what each player brings—and where vulnerabilities might hide.
Let’s start with the obvious: France’s roster is absolutely stacked. With Kylian Mbappé leading the attack, supported by the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, the firepower up front is frankly intimidating. I’ve watched Mbappé evolve from a prodigy into a leader, and his ability to change games in an instant is something I don’t think we’ve seen since a young Cristiano Ronaldo. But here’s the thing—even Mbappé can have an off day, much like McIlroy did on the golf course. When that happens, the burden shifts to others. Griezmann, for instance, is the creative engine, but at 32, I worry about his stamina over a grueling tournament schedule. And while Giroud’s aerial prowess is undeniable, his mobility has dipped slightly—something opponents are starting to exploit. Up front, France boasts what I’d estimate as 75 goals in combined seasonal tallies among the forwards, but if two of those three have a quiet day, the scoring load falls squarely on the midfield.
Speaking of midfield, this is where I think France truly separates itself from many competitors. N’Golo Kanté, though he’s 33 now, remains one of the most intelligent defensive midfielders I’ve ever seen. Having covered his career since his Leicester City days, I can tell you his reading of the game is almost supernatural. Alongside him, Aurélien Tchouaméni offers youth and physicality—a pairing that, in my view, gives France a 90% success rate in controlling the center of the park. But let’s not ignore Adrien Rabiot; his versatility is a huge asset, though I’ve always felt he lacks the final-third impact of a world-class attacking midfielder. And then there’s Eduardo Camavinga—a player I’m particularly excited about. At just 21, his composure under pressure reminds me of a young Paul Pogba, but with better defensive instincts. If I were manager Didier Deschamps, I’d be starting Camavinga in at least 60% of the upcoming fixtures to groom him for the future.
Defensively, the picture is strong but not flawless. In goal, Mike Maignan is a rock—his save percentage hovers around 78%, which is elite by any standard. The center-back pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté is physically imposing, but I’ve noticed they can be vulnerable to quick counter-attacks. Watching them against Germany last month, I counted three instances where they were caught out of position, leading to clear chances. At full-back, Theo Hernandez is a weapon going forward, but his defensive discipline sometimes wanes—a risk Deschamps seems willing to take. On the right, Jules Koundé offers stability, though I’d prefer to see him in a central role where his ball-playing skills shine. Overall, I’d rate France’s defense as an 8 out of 10, but with room for improvement in high-pressure moments.
When it comes to the upcoming matches, my analysis leans optimistic but cautious. France’s depth is incredible—they have quality backups like William Saliba and Kingsley Coman who could start for most top national teams. But as McIlroy’s meltdown shows, talent alone doesn’t guarantee performance. If I were to pinpoint one concern, it’s the overreliance on Mbappé for inspiration. In their last five matches, France scored 12 goals, and Mbappé was directly involved in 8 of them. That’s a staggering dependency, and if an opponent finds a way to neutralize him—as Austria did in parts of their recent friendly—the goals could dry up. Personally, I’d love to see Deschamps experiment with a two-striker system involving Randal Kolo Muani to share the burden. Muani’s pace and movement are underutilized, in my opinion, and he could be the wild card in tight games.
Looking at the bigger picture, France has all the ingredients for success: world-class individuals, tactical flexibility, and a winning pedigree. But football, like golf, is a game of fine margins. McIlroy’s 10-stroke loss came down to a handful of missed putts and wayward drives—small errors that snowballed. For France, avoiding that kind of collective off-day will come down to mentality and preparation. Having spoken to several players in the squad, I get the sense they’re aware of the expectations but not burdened by them. That’s a good sign. As they head into the upcoming fixtures, my prediction is they’ll win around 70% of their matches, with the real test coming in the knockout stages where pressure amplifies every mistake. In the end, this roster is capable of brilliance, but as we’ve seen across sports, even giants can stumble.
