France World Cup Team: Five Midfielders, One Lingering Question

France’s midfield remains one of the main questions ahead of the tournament, with Aurélien Tchouaméni at the center of the debate. For years, Didier Deschamps could rely on clear and settled pairings in the middle of the pitch, first N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba, then Adrien Rabiot and Tchouaméni at the 2022 World Cup. That balance has not fully returned, despite the latter duo still appearing to be the most likely option for the team’s next major matches.

The recent warm-up match against Côte d’Ivoire did little to ease concerns. Tchouaméni and Rabiot were again exposed in the first half when France struggled to build cleanly from the back and lost the ball in dangerous areas. Tchouaméni’s central turnover nearly cost France, while Kanté’s introduction at halftime did not solve the issue. Although Kanté remained active, his positioning allowed the Ivorians to break lines too easily. Manu Koné, coming off the bench, looked more convincing and may have improved his chances of earning more minutes.

A major part of the discussion is the absence of Antoine Griezmann from the heart of midfield. Under Deschamps’ 4-2-3-1 system, Griezmann had provided essential defensive work, pressing intensity and balance behind the forwards. None of the current attacking midfield options, including Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, Désiré Doué or Ousmane Dembélé, offer the same all-around workload. Without Griezmann, Rabiot and Tchouaméni are under greater pressure to cover space, win the ball and keep France stable in transition. Yet since Griezmann’s international retirement, neither has fully convinced as an automatic starter.

Deschamps still appears to trust the pair largely because there is no obvious alternative. Warren Zaïre-Emery has had a strong club season with Paris Saint-Germain, but his recent performances for France have not made him an obvious World Cup starter. Manu Koné looked promising earlier in qualifying, especially alongside Tchouaméni, but recurring muscle problems in 2026 have raised doubts about his reliability in a physically demanding tournament.

Kanté remains another possibility. At 35, he is no longer the undisputed world-class reference he once was, and he has not always been included in recent squads. Still, Deschamps has repeatedly turned back to him before major tournaments because of his experience, energy and tactical intelligence. His strong showing at the start of Euro 2024 reminded everyone of his enduring value, even if the context then differed from the current setup.

Tactically, the article argues that France may be better suited to a 4-3-3 than its current 4-2-3-1. In that system, Tchouaméni could play deeper as a true holding midfielder, Rabiot could push forward more naturally, and Kanté or another midfielder could complete a balanced trio. That setup might also suit Koné, Zaïre-Emery or Doué. But Michael Olise’s rise has made the 4-2-3-1 the preferred shape, and France has not started a match in 4-3-3 since March 2025.

For now, Tchouaméni remains the one constant in a midfield that still lacks certainty. On June 16 in New York, France is expected to start with Rabiot and Tchouaméni again, valued for their chemistry, experience and complementary profiles. Whether Deschamps keeps that structure or decides to reshape the midfield remains one of the team’s key unresolved issues.