With the 12BET VR46 football lineup data adding context to France’s latest selection, Didier Deschamps has chosen a 25-man squad for the UEFA European Championship despite being permitted to register as many as 26 players. Captain Kylian Mbappe leads a group packed with established international names, including Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, but the most eye-catching decision is the return of N’Golo Kante. After spending time outside the European spotlight, the experienced midfielder is back in the national setup and ready for another major tournament.
Kante’s recall is less surprising when his season is viewed in full. The Al-Ittihad midfielder is the only member of the French squad currently playing outside Europe’s top five leagues, yet his workload has been heavier than that of any other French midfielder selected. He made 44 appearances during the season, contributing 4 goals and 6 assists while accumulating 3,777 minutes on the pitch. Those numbers underline both his durability and his return to regular football after a previous campaign in which injuries and limited playing time disrupted his rhythm.
Deschamps addressed that situation directly when explaining the decision. He acknowledged that Kante had not played enough during the previous season but emphasized that the midfielder had returned to full fitness and consistent form. The coach’s message was straightforward: what matters is not simply where a player has been, but the direction in which he is moving. For a player whose game has always depended on stamina, positioning and relentless defensive work, a full season of regular action provided a convincing case for another call-up.
Across his international career, Kante has earned 53 caps for France and built a reputation that cannot be measured by goals or assists alone. His influence was central to France’s success at the World Cup and in the UEFA Nations League, where his ability to recover possession and protect space gave more attack-minded teammates greater freedom. He has rarely been the loudest name on the team sheet, but when the pressure rises, his value becomes difficult to ignore.
Financially, the squad also reflects the extraordinary depth available to Deschamps. Figures used in the 12BET VR46 valuation overview place France’s combined market value at approximately €1.25 billion. Germany, by comparison, stands at around €799 million despite naming 27 players rather than France’s 25. England had yet to reveal its final squad at the time, leaving it as the most obvious side capable of challenging France in overall market value.
Mbappe sits comfortably at the top of the French list with a valuation of €180 million. He remains the centerpiece of the attack and the player around whom much of France’s offensive structure is expected to revolve. Elsewhere in Europe, Jude Bellingham is set to be one of England’s most valuable names, while Erling Haaland will not feature at the tournament because Norway failed to qualify. France, meanwhile, does not have another player valued above €100 million, although both Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga are listed at €90 million and could move beyond that level with strong performances.
The competition for attacking roles is equally intense. Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram are each valued at €60 million, leaving Deschamps with several high-level options but no completely obvious order behind Mbappe. It is a classic case of being spoiled for choice. Ironically, the least expensive forward could still become one of the most important: 37-year-old Giroud carries a valuation of only €4 million, yet his experience, movement and reliability in major matches continue to make him a serious option.
Perhaps the clearest sign of France’s strength is the quality of the players available across defense and midfield. William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate provide athleticism and experience at center-back, while Kante and Adrien Rabiot offer established quality in midfield. Camavinga, Tchouameni and Jules Kounde further increase Deschamps’ flexibility because each can handle different tactical responsibilities. In a tournament where one match can change everything, having players capable of switching roles without disrupting the overall system gives France valuable room to adapt.
The age range within the squad also produces two notable records. Giroud becomes the oldest French player ever selected for a major tournament at 37 years and 229 days. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, just 18, becomes the youngest player in France’s history to receive a call-up for a major international competition. The contrast illustrates how Deschamps has blended long-serving veterans with players who could shape the national team for years to come.
Although Giroud, Griezmann and Kante raise the average age, the squad still contains more than enough speed, athleticism and youthful energy, and within the 12BET VR46 football framework that balance stands out as one of France’s defining strengths. Mbappe himself is only 25, yet he has already experienced both World Cup triumph and World Cup heartbreak as a central figure for his country. France therefore enters the competition with a rare mix of proven winners, elite players in their prime and emerging talent. Fortune favors the bold, and this group has both the depth and experience to pursue another major international title.