France's 2026 World Cup Campaign: A Quest for Glory French head coach Didier Deschamps, one of only three individuals to win the tournament as both a player and coach, is aiming to cement his legacy by leading France to a third World Cup title. The 57-year-old, who previously guided the team to victories in 1998 and 2018, is seeking to join an elite group of managers by becoming the second to win two World Cups after losing the 2022 final to Argentina. His tenure as France’s longest-serving coach ends in July, with former 1998 World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane expected to take over. France enters the 2026 tournament with one of the most balanced and talented squads in World Cup history. The team’s attacking arsenal includes a group of nine players with a combined market value exceeding €800 million, according to Transfermarkt. Among them, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembélé stand out, with Mbappé alone worth an estimated €250 million. Mbappé, who scored 12 goals across the 2022 and 2024 World Cups, is on track to break Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 goals. Olise, a Bayern Munich attacking midfielder, has provided 26 assists this season, while Dembélé, despite limited league starts, won Ligue 1’s player-of-the-year award with an average of 1.4 goals and assists per 90 minutes. Deschamps has implemented a 4-2-3-1 formation to maximize the team’s attacking potential, with Dembélé operating on the right flank and Olise as the central number 10. The strategy aims to address past issues, such as the lackluster performance in Euro 2024, where France scored just three goals from open play, including two own goals. The team’s defense, which conceded only four goals in qualifying, remains a key strength, though left-back remains a concern.#kylian_mbappe #france #zinedine_zidane #didier_deschamps #fifa_museum
