The two greatest attacks in the World Cup’s history were both Brazilian: the five-man frontline of 1970 led by Pelé, and the “three Rs” of 2002, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. Both became world champions. But the French attack that opens its campaign against Senegal on Tuesday has the potential to rival them.
At centre forward is the team’s captain Kylian Mbappé, a world champion at 19 in 2018, scorer of a hat-trick in the last World Cup final of 2022 and now, aged just 27, one goal away from tying Olivier Giroud’s record 57 as France’s highest scorer.
Behind him, probably sharing the roles of outside-right and playmaker, are Michael Olise of Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga’s player of the season, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, holder of the Ballon d’Or for world footballer of the year. Vying to join them at outside-left are a young pair who have already won two Champions Leagues with PSG, 21-year-old Désiré Doué, and Bradley Barcola, 23. Manchester City’s playmaker Rayan Cherki, a talent most countries would build their team around, will probably start from the bench.