Coach Didier Deschamps has never forgotten about Kante, even when he experienced a serious dip in form at Chelsea before heading to Saudi Arabia to 'rediscover' himself. Kante's resurgence in the Gulf region convinced Deschamps to bring him to the EURO 2024 finals to serve the plan of conquering the championship.
Kante made his debut for the French national team in March 2016. Since then, the midfielder has become an indispensable link in Deschamps' lineup. At the 2018 World Cup, Kante played incredibly impressively. At that time, France possessed the central midfield pair that every team dreamed of: Kante - Pogba. They were the important foundation that helped Les Bleus win their second World Cup trophy in history. By EURO 2020, the 33-year-old midfielder, along with France, had to stop at the round of 16 after losing to Switzerland in a penalty shootout. Since then, Kante's call-ups to the national team have gradually decreased, partly due to physical limitations.
The last time N'Golo Kante played for France was in June 2022. After that, the midfielder suffered an injury, forcing him to miss the 2022 World Cup. Last summer, Kante left Chelsea to join Al Ittihad on a free transfer. It seemed like the 33-year-old player came here to 'retire', but that's not in Kante's dictionary. He still played to the best of his ability - the most noticeable difference when comparing Kante with his French compatriot at Al Ittihad, Karim Benzema. While Benzema showed real laziness and reluctance to adapt to life in a new place, Kante, on the contrary, integrated very quickly. At Al-Ittihad, Kante revived his form by appearing in 42 out of 50 matches across all competitions, mostly as a starter. The former Chelsea star also contributed 4 goals and 6 assists. Witnessing Kante's impressive performance, Deschamps decided to call him back to the French national team to compete at the upcoming EURO 2024.
[caption id="attachment_5316" align="alignnone" width="600"] Kante is playing very well in Saudi Arabia - Photo: Getty[/caption]
However, people also wonder whether it's worth it because France now has a young and cohesive central midfield duo in Camavinga - Tchouameni. Not to mention that Pogba - Kante's familiar partner - is currently suspended for doping. Additionally, France has quality and younger central midfielders like Rabiot, Youssouf Fofana, and Zaire-Emery. One fact evident in the French national team is their extremely talented, youthful, and ambitious squad. However, the issue with young players is experience. They might perform well at club level, but playing for the national team is a different challenge. Among players like Camavinga, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Youssouf Fofana, and Zaire-Emery, who has over 50 caps for the national team? Except for Rabiot, who has 43 caps (although most were in friendly matches), the rest have only a handful of appearances. In tournaments like the EURO or World Cup, youth alone is not enough. Talent alone is not sufficient. They need more seasoned, experienced players for core leadership and combat experience.
Since Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, and Raphael Varane retired from the French national team after the 2022 World Cup, Les Bleus need to add experience. Especially with the absence of Benzema, Fekir, Pogba, and most recently Lucas Hernandez, it further reinforced Deschamps' decision to call Kante back. Speaking about choosing Kante, Deschamps shared quite simply with a relaxed smile: 'N'Golo Kante has had a full season, even though it wasn't in a European competition. He's playing brilliantly. In a team that has been rejuvenated a lot to prepare for the World Cup, having experienced, high-class players is important. I made this decision because I believe the French national team will be stronger with him.
[caption id="attachment_5314" align="alignnone" width="600"] Kante is still necessary for France - Photo: Getty[/caption]
At the age of 33, Kante's physicality might not allow him to roam the field for the full 90 minutes, but his steeliness is abundant. More importantly, Kante has learned to regulate himself. He has also limited the 'everywhere-at-once' style of play from his younger days. Instead, he opts for smarter, more refined positioning and plays a simpler yet more effective style of football. Remember, the former Chelsea star has played over 3,500 minutes in 42 matches for Al Ittihad. Granted, you say playing in the Saudi Arabian league is... ordinary. But what's extraordinary is that Kante, as a central midfielder, is not as leisurely as a goalkeeper or striker. The central midfield position demands immense energy, yet Kante is showing that he's an upgraded version of himself. Now, at 33, Kante is different from the Kante of his youthful days.
Don't think that Deschamps values Kante so much that he had to persuade him to come to Germany. He does care about Kante, but if the former Leicester and Chelsea player couldn't prove himself, Deschamps would have to overlook him. After watching some of Al Ittihad's matches, Coach Deschamps went from one surprise to another. The Les Blues' skipper couldn't believe that his 33-year-old protege could play at such a high level and cover 12-13 kilometers consistently in each match in the Saudi Pro League. Especially noteworthy is that Kante has been rarely injured since moving to Saudi Arabia. This is exactly what the French national team needs from a pillar in tough campaigns like the upcoming EURO, with a packed schedule.
In the upcoming campaign, Kante may envision himself not starting every game, but when needed, he's ready to contribute every ounce of his ability to help France secure victory. France needs that. They come to EURO 2024 as one of the heaviest contenders for the championship, alongside Portugal and England. But to reach the final and lift the trophy, they need a lot, including the championship mentality from players like Kante.
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