Newly-unveiled Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe will spearhead the French campaign for the European Championships this summer, a tournament they have fallen short at since beating Italy in the final of the 2000 edition in the Netherlands. Squad

𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 😍

The 2⃣5⃣ French players who have been called up for EURO 2024 👊#BleuCollectif | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/svAdmZMbuX

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) May 16, 2024

Goalkeepers

Brice Samba (Lens) Mike Maignan (AC Milan) Alphonse Areola (West Ham)

Defenders

Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool) William Saliba (Arsenal) Jules Kounde (Barcelona) Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) Jonathan Clauss (Marseille) Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan) Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)

Midfielders

N'Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad) Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) Adrien Rabiot (Juventus) Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG) Youssouf Fofana (Monaco) Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid)

Forwards

Olivier Giroud (AC Milan) Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) Ousmane Dembele (PSG) Randal Kolo Muani (PSG) Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan) Bradley Barcola (PSG) Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)

🚨🇫🇷 BREAKING: N’Golo Kanté returns to France national team squad for Euro 2024!

He’s back for the first time since June 3, 2022. pic.twitter.com/z7pW5RoKP5

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 16, 2024

In a star-studded 25 man squad, including experienced campaigners Antione Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, there are also unknown quantities, such as PSG starlet Bradley Barcola and goalkeeper Brice Samba taking up the place left absent by long-time starter Hugo Lloris.

There are few changes in the squad from the Qatar World Cup, where France agonizingly lost one of the great World Cup Finals in recent times. The most notable absentee is Raphael Varane, his place taken by Marseille right-back Jonathan Clauss.

Placed in Group D with Austria, Poland and Netherlands, France will be confident of a top 2 ranking to secure their progress to the knock-out stages.

Group Fixtures

Monday 17th June: Austria vs France (20:00 BST). Friday 21st June: Netherlands vs France (20:00 BST). Tuesday 25th June: France vs Poland (17:00 BST)

Player to Watch: Edouardo Camavinga

Most people would pick Kylian Mbappe for this bracket, but I’ve chosen to ignore the blindingly obvious choice, and instead gone with the 21 year old midfielder/left-back hybrid. Camavinga has gone from strength to strength this season with Real Madrid, and doubled his medal tally in the Champions league and in La Liga. One of the best players on the park in the final against Dortmund, don’t be surprised to see his game develop significantly at the Euros.

CAMAVINGA.... 🇫🇷😳pic.twitter.com/ufFp31moZv

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) March 31, 2024

Prediction

Objectively the France squad is one of, if not the strongest and deepest in the tournament. Their relatively easy first 2 fixtures will allow for some squad rotation for the less experienced internationals, and their full squad will come into its own deeper in the tournament.

They are up there with the favorites for a reason, and I can't see any outcome other than a run to the final, with a potential rematch of the world cup quarter-final with England waiting for them …