Three of the big contenders for Euro 2024 announced their squads, either provisional or final, on the same day on May 16.
Unlike host nation Germany and the Netherlands, France's roster was definitive: the 25 players selected by Didier Deschamps will be the ones who lead their challenge for glory, unless injury forces them into a late unexpected change.
Les Bleus, World Cup winners in 2018 and runners-up to Argentina four years later, will be one of the leading candidates to win the trophy in Germany this year. They were beaten finalists in this competition on home soil back in 2016 (to Portugal), and this remains the trophy to elude Deschamps during his spell as head coach, his team having been eliminated by Switzerland on penalties at Euro 2020.
Kylian Mbappe, who missed in that shootout, is the star of this squad, but France are blessed with multiple big-name players and will likely be the opponents everyone else will fear at these finals.
The Sporting News looks at their confirmed roster and their schedule for the coming weeks.
𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 😍
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) May 16, 2024
The 2⃣5⃣ French players who have been called up for EURO 2024 👊#BleuCollectif | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/svAdmZMbuX
MORE: The full schedule and bracket for Euro 2024, updated live
France Euro 2024 squad and player roster
Deschamps opted against selecting the full contingent of 26 players that UEFA's rules allowed, instead opting for a 25-man roster.
The big surprise was the inclusion of former Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante. The 33-year-old, now featuring in Saudi Arabia for Al Ittihad, has not played for his country since before the 2022 World Cup. He was previously a mainstay in Deschamps' midfield, alongside Paul Pogba, who is contesting a four-year doping ban and will therefore miss this tournament.
Kylian Mbappe, the new star of Real Madrid, is the captain and inspiration of this roster. The group includes many of his former Paris Saint-Germain teammates, such the inexperienced Bradley Barcola, while Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann was interestingly listed as a midfielder in France's squad announcement, suggesting he will continue his role as a playmaker for Les Bleus.
Theo Hernandez was included, but his brother, Bayern Munich's Lucas Hernandez, has a serious knee injury and will be sidelined for months.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Kingsley Coman were both included despite late-season injury issues.
Ages and caps correct at the start of Euro 2024 on June 14
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Alphonse Areola | West Ham (ENG) | 31 | 5 |
| GK | Mike Maignan | AC Milan (ITA) | 28 | 16 |
| GK | Brice Samba | Lens (FRA) | 30 | 3 |
| DEF | Jonathan Clauss | Marseille (FRA) | 31 | 13 |
| DEF | Theo Hernandez | AC Milan (FRA) | 26 | 27 |
| DEF | Ibrahima Konate | Liverpool (ENG) | 25 | 16 |
| DEF | Jules Kounde | Barcelona (SPA) | 25 | 28 |
| DEF | Ferland Mendy | Real Madrid (SPA) | 29 | 10 |
| DEF | Benjamin Pavard | Inter Milan (FRA) | 28 | 54 |
| DEF | William Saliba | Arsenal (ENG) | 23 | 14 |
| DEF | Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich (NED) | 25 | 20 |
| MID | Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid (SPA) | 21 | 17 |
| MID | Youssouf Fofana | Monaco (FRA) | 25 | 18 |
| MID | Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 33 | 129 |
| MID | N'Golo Kante | Al Ittihad (KSA) | 33 | 55 |
| MID | Adrien Rabiot | Juventus (ITA) | 29 | 43 |
| MID | Aurelien Tchouameni | Real Madrid (SPA) | 24 | 31 |
| MID | Warren Zaire-Emery | PSG (FRA) | 18 | 3 |
| FWD | Bradley Barcola | PSG (FRA) | 21 | 0 |
| FWD | Kingsley Coman | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 56 |
| FWD | Ousmane Dembele | PSG (FRA) | 27 | 44 |
| FWD | Olivier Giroud | LA FC (USA) | 37 | 133 |
| FWD | Randal Kolo Muani | PSG (FRA) | 25 | 17 |
| FWD | Kylian Mbappe | PSG (FRA) | 25 | 79 |
| FWD | Marcus Thuram | Inter Milan (ITA) | 26 | 20 |
How many players are in Euro 2024 squads?
Teams are permitted to name squads of up to 26 players — an increase of three from the previous tournament rules — with the minimum roster size set at 23.
UEFA regulations do not stipulate how many of those players must be goalkeepers.
France Euro 2024 group draw
France are the highest-ranked side in Group D at Euro 2024 — the pool considered something of a 'Group of Death'.
Netherlands, ranked seventh in the world by FIFA, are in this group alongside Austria (25th), and Poland (28th).
MORE: How all the Euro 2024 groups look
France Euro 2024 schedule, matches
| Date | Match | Opponent | Venue | Time (ET) |
| June 17 | Group stage MD1 | Austria | Merkur Spiel-Arena | 3 p.m. |
| June 21 | Group stage MD2 | Netherlands | Red Bull Arena | 3 p.m. |
| June 25 | Group stage MD3 | Poland | Signal Iduna Park | 12 p.m. |
Can France replace players on their Euro 2024 roster?
Once the final roster has been made official, changes can only be made due to injury or illness up until the team's opening match of the tournament.
UEFA's tournament regulations state: "Should listed players or goalkeepers become seriously injured or ill, they may only be substituted if both their team doctor and a doctor from the UEFA Medical Committee confirm that the injury or illness is sufficiently serious to prevent them from taking part in the final tournament."
While any outfield players must be replaced prior to their team's opening match, goalkeepers can be changed prior to their next scheduled game once the tournament is underway.
