Didier Deschamps resisted the urge to recall one of the most decorated players in French football in Karim Benzema. The Real Madrid forward’s off the field issues were deemed too much of a risk for the national team. His omission was not the only controversial one as Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette and Bayern's  Kingsley Coman were all left to watch the tournament from home. Despite these exclusions, France will still ultimately send one of the most complete squads to the 2018 edition of the World Cup.

The Euro 2016 finalist are overloaded with world-class talent in almost every position. Spanish based attacker Antoine Griezmann is fresh off a man of the match performance in the Europa League final. Griezmann was the player of the tournament two years ago at the Euros and many expect him to have a similar performance in Russia. He will look to link up with the golden boy of French and world football, Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe scored 21 goals and contributed 16 assists in his first season at capital club PSG, as he became a French League Champion for the second consecutive season. Oliver Giroud, a favourite of Deschamps, could lead the attack, his mid-season move to Chelsea was more than justified after he stole a starting spot from Alvaro Morata and completed the season again as a FA Cup champion.

France’s plethora of gifted players can be exemplified by the fact that they will be taking three of the top five most expensive players in football history to the World Cup. Along with Mbappe, the temperamental Paul Pogba and Barcelona sensation Osman Dembele all cost their employers over 100 million euros. Pogba’s much-publicized return to Manchester United has not gone as smoothly as planned. The lanky midfielder’s every performance is under the microscope of zealous English pundits and the ensuing strain to perform sometimes takes a toll on the player. However, no one denies his ability and when in the mood he can dominate games. Dembele is a tricky customer whose debut season in Spain was hampered by injury. Despite this, it is clear to see why the Spanish Champions splashed the cash on the confident 21-year-old. To boot, France has selected Liverpool bound Nabil Fakir, whose performances catapulted Lyon to next season’s Champions League, and former U 20 World Cup winner Florian Thauvin. The ex-Newcastle man performances this season has made him irresistible to Deschamps who has, since his turn in form, always found a place for him on the French squad.

Add to these attackers the 2016-2017 Premier League Player of the Year N’golo Kante, Serie A Champion Blaise Matuidi and the Real Madrid/Barcelona centre-back duo of Varane and Umtiti, France has a squad that can go all the way.

Head Coach: Didier Deschamps

Population: 67 million

Appearances: 15

Best: Winners 1998

How they Qualified: The unconvincing way Les Bleus qualified is why many are sceptical of how they can perform at World Cup. With so much quality in the French squad, it is simply unacceptable that they managed 0-0 draws against low ranked Luxembourg and Belarus. Hugo Lloris' last-minute error in a 2-1 lost against Sweden is the perfect example of mental lapses can creep into this star-studded team. However, the French still managed to qualify, finishing above the Sweden and Holland in European Qualification Group A. 

Star Players: Antoine Griezmann(Atletico Madrid) ),Paul Pogba(Manchester United), Kylian Mbappe(PSG), Raphael Varane(Real Madrid), Samuel Umtiti(Barcelona)

Wildcard:-Oliver Giroud-Giroud started all but one of France's qualifiers when available. He also started all but one of France's Euro 2016 games. Therefore unless Deschamps changes his thinking, Giroud will lead the attack in Russia. Being surrounded by some of the world's most exciting attacking players, Giroud will be tasked with finishing the opportunities he is given. How he deals with this job might spell France's fate. 

Legend: Zinedine Zidane