France
Mohamed Ouahbi never played football seriously, worked as a PE teacher until he was nearly 30 and can now take Morocco to a World Cup semi-final
The Moroccan national team coach, born and raised in Belgium, has a story that mirrors that of his side.
France can field all its attacking talent and remain solid, much of that down to Adrien Rabiot
The Milan midfielder remains Les Bleus’ tactical anchor, even in scrappy matches against Paraguay.
Michael Olise still isn’t scoring, yet he remains a game-changing talent and a joy to watch
A second striker, a playmaker and above all a creative force, the Bayern forward has found the perfect role to get the best out of his talent.
Dembélé’s hat-trick against Norway takes the pressure off and underlines France’s depth
Les Bleus have finally got their Ballon d’Or contender firing, a warning to the rest of the field.
One match was enough for Kylian Mbappé to show that the World Cup is still his own playground
France–Senegal, another match shaped by Mbappé, again uncontainable at World Cup level.
France’s dominance in world football, and a national team defined by multiculturalism
Expanded boundaries, talent from the banlieues and the Clairefontaine academy have made Les Bleus a football superpower. Beyond divisions and political instrumentalisation.