France at World Cup 2026: Can Deschamps Finally Unleash His Attack?
France arrive at the 2026 World Cup with a squad bursting with attacking talent, yet a familiar question hangs over them: will manager Didier Deschamps actually trust his forwards to express themselves?
According to The Guardian’s World Cup 2026 Experts’ Network preview, the tension at the heart of this France side is nothing new. Antoine Griezmann perhaps put it best when he described the Deschamps approach during Euro 2024 as “a pain to watch, but it makes you win.” That tournament illustrated the point neatly — Les Bleus reached the semi-finals yet managed just one open-play goal throughout, from Randal Kolo Muani. The rest came from penalties and own goals.
Signs of a shift emerged in March, when France scored five goals in two friendly matches against Brazil and Colombia on a tour of the United States. Deschamps openly said he wanted his team to become less predictable, and for the first time in a while the balance between defensive structure and attacking freedom appeared to be closer to right.
Whether that more expansive approach carries over into the tournament itself is the central storyline for France at this World Cup 2026 hub.
The Attack Is Not in Doubt
Defender Lucas Hernandez has claimed France possess