The French team is very strong but not yet perfect.

Didier Deschamps brings a French team with depth and youth to the 2026 World Cup, but the issues of wing play and tactical balance remain major questions.

The French national team enters the 2026 World Cup with the familiar image of a title contender. But unlike many major teams still struggling with a generational transition, Didier Deschamps has almost completed that process years ago.

The recently announced list of 26 players shows that the French national team has retained the core squad that reached the 2022 World Cup final, while also adding a number of energetic young players such as Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche, and Maxence Lacroix.

The French national team's attack is extremely strong, spearheaded by Mbappe.

This is what sets France apart from the rest. They not only have big stars but also possess an almost limitless depth of talent.

A new chapter for Mbappe and the golden generation of the French national team.

Kylian Mbappe remains the driving force. But this time, the pressure doesn't rest entirely on the shoulders of the Real Madrid forward.

Ousmane Dembele is playing the best football of his career, Michael Olise has matured significantly at Bayern Munich, and Bradley Barcola and Doue are both capable of making a difference.

Even players who were left out, like Eduardo Camavinga or Kolo Muani, are still capable of being starters for many other major national teams. This is the clearest evidence of the enormous pool of talent that French football possesses.

Deschamps' stability is also a major advantage. After nearly 14 years in charge, he has built a clear system, high discipline, and a stable hierarchy in the dressing room. The players understand their roles and there is no longer much spontaneous experimentation like other teams before the World Cup.

However, the French team is not yet a perfect team.

The current weakness in the French national team is the full-back position.

The most obvious weaknesses lie on the flanks. Jules Kounde has consistently struggled with fitness issues at Barcelona this season, while Theo Hernandez has declined significantly since moving to Al Hilal.

Backup options like Malo Gusto or Lucas Digne are decent, but they don't feel like they're at a high enough level to guarantee absolute security.

The problem of wings and the "pleasant headache"

In modern football, full-backs are no longer simply defensive support positions. They are crucial in transitioning play, stretching the opponent's formation, and maintaining pressing intensity. A French team with such attacking firepower as the current one is even more prone to leaving gaps if both wingers are not in top form.

Deschamps faces a "pleasant headache" because France has so many quality attacking players. But putting them all on the field at the same time is another matter. Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, Barcola, Cherki, and Doue all prefer to play freely and favor direct attacking football. Without balance, the French team could easily be punished on the counter-attack.

Can Theo Hernandez return to his best form for the French national team?

The World Cup is a short tournament and always a pragmatic one. France won in 2018 not because they played the most beautiful game, but because they knew how to control risk best. In Qatar 2022, they nearly made defending champions Argentina suffer a humiliating defeat if Muani had been more composed in his one-on-one situation with Emiliano Martinez.

Deschamps understands this better than anyone. He may be criticized for being pragmatic, but it was precisely that pragmatism that helped France maintain its status as a major force for almost a decade.

The 2026 World Cup could be Deschamps' last tournament with this golden generation. And with the current squad depth, the French team clearly has what it takes to reach the final once again.

The remaining question is whether they can find a balance between talent and organization. That's the key to determining whether Mbappe and his teammates will lift the trophy, or once again watch others celebrate.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuyen-phap-qua-manh-nhung-chua-hoan-hao-post1652104.html