Mix of youth and experience makes France team to back in Nations League

France have an immensely talented squad packed with ascending stars and tournament experience. 

Les Bleus also have a very favourable matchup against Croatia in the quarter-finals of the Nations League, but they are still 4.50 to win the tournament. 

Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at time of publishing and subject to change.

Best of Both Worlds With Stacked France Squad 

France reached the semi-finals of the Euros last year after winning the 2018 World Cup and finishing as runners-up at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Didier Deschamps has evolved his squad since their World Cup triumph almost seven years ago, bringing in the next generation of French stars. 

The majority of the current squad have played in at least one of those three deep tournament runs, though, and nine remain from the team that won the Nations League in 2021. Of course, captain Kylian Mbappé is among the few players involved in both World Cup runs, the Euros in 2024, and the Nations League win. 

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This squad not only has big-game experience aplenty at club level. They have also been together competing for their country when the pressure is at its highest. While experience doesn’t guarantee success in any competition, it certainly benefits a team like France, who are also blessed with phenomenal quality throughout the team. 

From Mbappé and breakout star Ousmane Dembélé in the final third to Eduardo Camavinga, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Aurélien Tchouaméni in midfield with an array of exceptional defensive options including William Saliba and Jules Koundé, this France squad is as talented as any in world football. 

The evolution has been seamless, despite Paul Pogba’s ban, N’Golo Kante ageing out of his prime, and Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann retiring. Deschamps is without Marcus Thuram and Ferland Mendy for the quarter-final of the Nations League against Croatia this week, while Youssouf Fofana and Kingsley Coman were left out of the squad altogether.

Deschamps is getting the best of both worlds. Zaïre-Emery, Bradley Barcola, and Manu Koné bring long-term upside. Camavinga and Saliba are only 22 and 23 years old, respectively. Deschamps has ascending young talents while having peak-age stars with experience in high-stakes international matches. 

Back France For Nations League Glory

France’s Nations League quarter-final is against a Croatia team which won two of its six Nations League group-stage matches. They took a total of two points from their last three matches in the phase, drawing with Poland and Portugal and losing away to Scotland.

France are 2.10 underdogs for the first leg in Split on Thursday. Croatia, like France, have plenty of experience, but they are a long way from the team France met in the World Cup final eight years ago, with Luka Modric in his late thirties, and several others either a long way past their peaks or having retired from international football. Luka Sučić and Lovro Majer are also unavailable through injury for this tie.  France face European champions Spain or the Netherlands if they get past Croatia. Italy (with their attacking duo), Germany, Denmark, or Portugal will be waiting in the final. Europe’s two best teams are on the same side of the draw, with Spain narrowly favoured over France. 

Spain are missing several key players, including Rodri and Inigo Martinez. It’s not a foregone conclusion they beat the Netherlands over two legs. Even if they do, Rodri’s absence for the semis would make France the team to back. We think France have been underestimated heading into the finals phase of the 2025 Nations League – their 4.50 price to lift the trophy is excellent value. 

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