FIFA World Cup 2018: 6 reasons France could be favourites to take home the trophy

Dynamic Midfield

Kanté's pivotal to any success

With France opting to play a 4-3-3 formation, the midfield trio is hugely important in controlling the tempo of the game, protecting the defence and supplying the attackers. N'Golo Kanté will almost certainly sit in front of the defence, breaking up play before it gets to the final third. Even with a dip in form this year, there are still few who rival him in that position.

With an 89.7% pass completion rate, you know exactly what you are getting with Kanté, and that breeds calmness and composure in any side. In front of him, the mercurial talent of Paul Pogba will take on a much less restricted role, as he roams around the midfield and the space behind the lone striker. Pogba may not completely be living up to his price tag, but he showed in the Manchester derby last month that he is capable of turning a game on its head, inspiring a United comeback with two goals in that 3-2 win.

That leaves one space left in the centre for either Matuidi, Tolisso or Rabiot. Not a bad trio to call on by any means, especially when we consider that all three are going to pick up a league winners' medals at Juventus, Bayern Munich and PSG respectively.

If France decide that a more defensive approach is needed, Steven N'Zonzi is having a wonderful year at Sevilla, and would add more cover should France find themselves in the position of holding on to a lead. On the other hand, if an attack-minded ethos is what Deschamps desires, Nabil Fekir can play behind the striker as well on the wing of a front three.

The Lyon man has a penchant for scoring decisive and spectacular goals, and has had an extremely impressive campaign already, with 17 goals and 7 assists. Dimitri Payet, who, at 31, may be playing his last international tournament, is in the same mould as Fekir, and has dug France out of a few holes before. He may have the opportunity to do it again.