How good are France? The question is doing the rounds, not as a matter of inquiry, but disbelief. France, known for their pragmatism under Didier Deschamps, have outright changed into a proactive attacking side for this North American edition.
France possess profiles that in themselves land amongst some of the greatest national teams to ever play the game. In Kylian Mbappe, they have someone with the nose for goal and the burst of speed to unsettle even the best.
In Ousmane Dembele, they have a Ballon d’Or winner who is stepping onto greater levels, revealing himself to be of more use than just a pure winger. Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue have been lethal with movement and skill, but it is in Michael Olise that France have found everything else.
If they are still defined by pragmatism, that pragmatism comes from this France team’s togetherness, wrought in liquid gold. Nothing fancy, just pure football.
Throwback to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, France were bullying teams into submission. Mbappe’s pace seemed to be enough to rattle teams like Argentina. France would drop deep, leaving half-spaces alone for opposition midfielders or players to capitalise on, comfortable in Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti’s ability to douse any fire. 2018’s display became a symbol of muscle power.
The semifinal against Belgium became the lasting memory of that pragmatic approach, where France allowed Belgium to play but won through an Umtiti header.
France barely broke sweat thinking of attacking schemes. But even the best had to learn lessons.
Come the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, they were at it again. The same pattern emerged. France still pummeled opponents, with Mbappe’s eye for goal going to new levels. Yet when the final hurdle came, Argentina dominated proceedings for the first 70 minutes, moving the ball viciously and exposing France’s lack of control before Mbappe’s late explosion dragged them back into the tie.
Even at Euro 2024, Deschamps defended their approach bluntly: “If you’re getting bored, watch another game. You don’t have to watch -- it’s fine.”
The bullishness was still there when Spain dominated proceedings in the Euro semi-final, exposing France’s lack of invention. When they arrived at the 2026 World Cup, France came in assured, with a promise of efficacy and beauty, connecting both worlds.
Sweden never really had a chance in yesterday’s Round of 32 match. When France finally decided that the game needed to be put to bed, they unleashed an attacking intensity few teams would want to face in this World Cup. Mbappe was sliding between the lines and moving at pace.
In fact, at one point, France’s core movements saw every player in the attacking third constantly move between the lines.
Olise, meanwhile, was everywhere. A player who in profile shows similarities to Lionel Messi’s playmaking style, Olise was running the show, appearing all over the pitch. He would drop back into his own half, securing passing lanes for others and adding defensive solidity at the back. He would soon move to the left-hand side of the pitch, connecting with Mbappe or Barcola.
He held the ball on a string, while pulling France’s strings.
Mbappe’s first goal came from a short corner, Olise finding Dembele, who found Mbappe in space. The French striker unleashed himself into space, skipping past a challenge. Then the shot came much earlier than the Sweden defence anticipated. Even before he had regained balance with another defender now converging, Mbappe poked the shot in as the ball bent in at pace.
If Mbappe himself was a difficult prospect, the movement of the rest was surreal. Deschamps bowed as Mbappe came in to celebrate. Not many teams will have that kind of chemistry with a coach, and Deschamps was turning a new leaf too in his fourth World Cup as France coach.
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Photo: AFP
Olise was the architect of France’s next two goals, providing a nutmeg assist from the left half-space for Barcola before setting up Mbappe again. The 24-year-old has become the gold in the French machinery, unlocking spaces with a vision that makes defensive structures look entirely futile.
He now has five assists in the tournament -- just one short of Pele’s 1970 record. “He does everything on the pitch,” Barcola said on Olise’s playmaking. “He has the capacity to score too, and he came close, but it will come. He is a genius.”
All of this is happening with France still looking like they are not getting out of second gear. Frightening is the word.
The blend of Mbappe, Olise and Dembele evokes memories of Brazil’s golden attacking trio of 2002 -- Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho -- or the 1970 side shaped by Mario Zagallo, where Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostao redefined attacking football.
There is only one question left: is there any stopping Les Bleus this time?
