Chelsea Euro 2020 preview part three: France looking for domination

Chelsea has largely been on the fringes of the French revolution, but they can at least point to two key members with a third going to the Euros, as well. N’Golo Kante will be going to throw his hat in the Ballon d’Or ring, Olivier Giroud will go to continue making history, and Kurt Zouma will be looking to sneak his way into a line-up despite his lack of playing time in the second half of the season.

It does say a lot about France that, despite the tournament being delayed, they remain favorites with largely the same team. It also says a lot that most of their starters have put in fantastic shifts all season ahead of the tournament. If there had to be just one favorite for the Euros, it’d be France.

It’s also interesting to note that France doesn’t do a whole lot that excites, but that’s pretty perfect for these types of month long tournaments. They’ll defend, counter, and score and they’ll keep doing it as they march on. Furthermore, they’ll feel hard done by after following that formula last Euros only to see Portugal use their own tricks against them to win the thing.

Speaking of Portugal, France won’t have to wait long to face them given they are in the same group. With Germany also there, it’ll be a rough start to the tournament for all involved. Plenty of third placed teams advance, but a hard slog to start could set the wrong tone for the tournament in the knockout stages. Oh, also Hungary is there.

If France is to succeed, it’ll be based on Kante keeping up his current form. France’s approach to matches in general is passive, but they still rely on Kante covering for more creative and adventurous midfielders around him. And, as mentioned earlier, a France win would firmly put Kante in Ballon d’Or contention.

Normally, Giroud would have a similar key role to play as he would pin defenses as Kylian Mbappe or Antoine Griezmann played off him. This isn’t a normal Euros though as the expanded squads made way for Karim Benzema to return from exile. Benzema has been great this season so it’ll be hard to deny him a start, but that may also create issues.

France has a bad habit of imploding a bit after winning a tournament and being favorites the next time out. They won the World Cup in part because of Giroud’s contributions (despite his lack of goals). How will he, or the team, feel to see him pushed out for Benzema’s return? It’s not like Benzema was wrongly exiled, even if the reasons were off the pitch. Is that the powder keg for France this time around?

Kurt Zouma’s role in it all is unclear too. He doesn’t start much for France, but more and more in recent seasons he has found his way into the side. His lack of playing time most likely hurts him, but at the same time he could be fresher than alternatives. And, given how France plays, it might be hard to leave Zouma on the bench when a set piece rolls around.

France should go deep in the tournament provided they face no early issues that derail them before they can get going. A win would go a long way towards Chelsea having a Ballon d’Or winner so that alone may be enough to create a rooting interest amongst Chelsea fans.