No footballing nation dominates the modern World Cup landscape quite like France. Having reached the final in four of the last seven tournaments, Les Bleus arrive at the 2026 World Cup not merely looking to compete but expecting to conquer.
This summer marks the end of an era. Didier Deschamps, the ultimate results-driven pragmatist who has guided the national team since 2012, is stepping down after the tournament, with Zinedine Zidane reportedly waiting in the wings.
Deschamps will leave them in great shape: a squad bulging with world class talent and a terrifying array of young alpha males. However, history has shown that France's greatest threat rarely wears the shirt of the opposition - but with the volatility within their own dressing room.
If you need a reminder of that capacity to self-destruct, Netflix's documentary about their ill-fated 2010 World Cup called Watch The Bus: A French Football Mutiny is a pre-tournament must-see.
