As a former Scotland international and BBC co‑commentator, I have spent years watching the beautiful game through a lens that prizes joy as much as victory. That lens leads me to root for France not merely because of their results, but because of the way they play.
France’s forward line reads like a roll‑call of emerging superstars: Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and the versatile option of either Desire Doué or Bradley Barcola. Their movement is fluid, their creativity unforced, and their willingness to take risks mirrors the kind of football that once defined entire eras.
France's Dream Team
When I think of great attacking units, the memory of Brazil’s 1970 side and the relentless firepower of the 2002 Brazilian squad surface immediately. Those teams combined technical mastery with an infectious sense of fun, and France’s current cohort seems to chase that same ideal.
The tournament has offered its own stories, from the United States’ respectable march to the last sixteen — a run that, while impressive, fell short of the heights many expected — to Argentina’s dramatic comeback against Egypt, a match where Lionel Messi’s brilliance turned the tide.
Controversy also made its mark, most notably the red card handed to Folarin Balogun, a decision that many analysts deemed harsh and that sparked debate about the balance between discipline and fairness.
Even the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, a player whose mere participation can alter a team’s dynamics, appeared to weigh on Portugal’s ambitions, as if his storied legacy cast a subtle shadow over the competition’s unfolding narrative.