“Fifty days out from the World Cup, France are in ominously impressive form and will go into the tournament as one of the favourites to lift the trophy. After a curious Euro 2024, where Les Bleus went out in the semi-finals having scored only three goals from open play (two of which were own goals), head coach Didier Deschamps used the subsequent Nations League campaign to recalibrate his misfiring attack. Set out in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Michael Olise at No 10, France reached the Nations League semi-finals, where they lost 5-4 to Spain in a madcap game in Stuttgart, before cruising through World Cup qualifying and taking 16 points from a possible 18. …”
NY Times/The Athletic