Football: the eleven type of the French in the five major championships (2020-2021)

While the championships are about to end, the editorial staff of Just Focus offers you the best French team for the 2020-2021 season. The tactical device will be organized around a 4-3-3. Despite the health crisis, despite the absence of fans, football has not stopped this season. And this, for our greatest happiness. As every season, the French shone on the five major championships. While some have confirmed their level, others have revealed themselves this season…

The goalkeeper: Maignan

Goalkeeper Mike Maignan is undoubtedly the best French goalkeeper this season. He more than confirmed his very good previous season. In addition to being the best French goalkeeper in 2020-2021, he would be one of the best goalkeepers in Europe according to the stats . With 20 games without conceding goals in 36 games, the Lille goalkeeper has the best ratio in all of Europe ahead of big names like Ederson (Manchester City, 18) and Jan Oblak (Atlético de Madrid, 18). The native of Cayenne in French Guiana is a major player in the very good season of LOSC. Lille are currently leaders of the championship after 36 rounds. They are also the best defence in Ligue 1 with only 22 goals conceded. Thanks to his very good performances, Maignan would be close to an agreement with AC Milan.

The laterals: T. Hernandez/Mukiele

But what a season for Milan's Theo Hernandez! The brother of world champion Lucas, exploded in the eyes of the football world. In 2020-2021, the player with a very important physical condition, has just had the best season of his career. An indisputable starter at left-back, he has been decisive this season for Milan. The Franco-Spanish dynamited his left corridor, because of his offensive contribution. In 43 games in all competitions, he scored 8 goals and provided 7 assists. A very complete and prolific season. Nevertheless, the native of Marseille was not rewarded for his very good season, not being selected for the France team. With the Euro approaching in a few weeks, it is difficult to imagine Theo Hernandez in the group. He would be fourth at left back behind Lucas Hernandez, Lucas Digne and Ferland Mendy. At right-back, we find the 23-year-old Nordi Mukiele. He plays for RB Leipzig. Arrived from Montpellier in 2018 for 16 million euros, the native of Montreuil is having a very big season. He played 38 games for 4 goals and 2 assists. He is able to play both right back and central defender. This was beneficial to the German club when playing with 3 or 5 defenders. Nordi Mukiele is a real defender, the man, who imposes a physical challenge on his opponent and who does not refuse the duel both aerial and on the ground. Combining speed and game reading, it has a huge and growing potential. Currently 2nd in the Bundesliga with Leipzig, Mukiele could pack up this summer. The latter is courted by several major European leaders. He could also be one of Didier Deschamps' surprises for the next matches of the Blues.

The central offices: Koundé / Upamecano

Arriving in Sevilla a year and a half ago from Bordeaux, the young French central defender Jules Koundé has become a reference in his position in record time. He is one of the best Frenchmen this season. His rise is meteoric ! Undisputed holder in the hinge of the Andalusian club, he is radiant in 2020-2021. He played 32 games out of a possible 36 in La Liga.

Measuring 1m81 and weighing 70 kg, Koundé has a small size for a central defender. However, its size is not a weakness but a quality. Combined with solid lateral speed and speed, he has a center of gravity closer to that of opposing attackers than the majority of defenders. The cleanliness in his interventions is also above average. (65% success in his tackles). The 22-year-old defender is in demand by many European clubs, such as Chelsea and Manchester United. Koundé fully deserves his place in Didier Deschamps' list for this summer's Euro .

To accompany Koundé in central defense, who better this season than Dayot Upamecano. The 2020-2021 season is synonymous with confirmation for the former Valencian, after revealed himself last year. An indisputable starter at RB Leizpig, he became a defensive boss. The current 2nd in the Bundesliga is the best defense in the league with only 28 goals conceded. And Upamecano has something to do with it. The solid, rough defender and good restarter was of great interest to Bayern Munich a few months ago. On February 14, the Bavarian management announced the signing of the 22-year-old defender on a five-year contract. He had a release clause of 40 million euros. This summer, he will join the French colony Bayern Munich, where Kingsley Coman, Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez, Corentin Tolisso, Bouna Sarr and Tanguy Kouassi already play. We will also surely find this summer with the Blues, the defender of 1m 85 during Euro 2020.

Midfielders: Kanté / Veretout / Ndombele

We found our N'Golo Kanté from the 2018 World Cup. Despite two injuries of twenty days, the 1m68 player has an exceptional season. It is an essential part of Chelsea's tactical scheme. Because of his activity, his interceptions or his intelligence of play, he is really essential in the midfield of the Blues. The former Leicester man has not missed a Champions League game this season. Like his double confrontation against Real Madrid, Kante is having a European campaign of the highest order. It should be noted that he was twice named man of the match in the first leg and second leg of this semi-final against Casa Blanca. He will play his first Champions League final on May 29 against Manchester City. We will also need a great N'Golo Kante to win Euro 2020. One of the surprises of this eleven is surely the presence of Jordan Veretout in midfield. Nevertheless, it is no coincidence, the career of the 28-year-old has definitely taken off in Italy. Impressive in the heart of the game of AS Roma, the French midfielder has become an essential part of Paulo Fonseca's squad. He has become a modern midfielder, a total midfielder, useful in both phases of the game. First restarter, the Roma player has a technical facility ball at the foot to orient the game, accelerate or slow it down. He dictates the tempo. The performances of the former player of AS Saint-Etienne or FC Nantes are exceptional. He is on a cloud this season with 11 goals and 5 assists in 38 matches in all competitions this season. Veretout has slowly but surely moved closer to the doors of the France team. A goal that the native of Ancenis does not hide and hopes. Perhaps Didier Deschamps' surprise for the Euro, case to follow…

Tanguy Ndombele has confirmed his renaissance with Tottenham this season. After a complicated start with Jose Mourinho, the Frenchman was able to get back on the right path to finally convince everyone. And remember that it is a special environment. When you see his very good season, you think he seems really fulfilled at the Spurs. The talented Ndombele had a full season playing 44 games for 6 goals and 4 assists. 

Thanks to his very good performances, the former Lyonnais found the France team at the last gathering. A good omen for him as the French coach's list for the European Championship approaches. He had not been selected since June 2019.

Strikers: Thuram / Mbappé / Benzema

He is the son of Lilian Thuram, the famous defender of the France football team that won the 1998 World Cup.Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Marcus is a real revelation this season in the Bundesliga. The native of Parma, has achieved great performances this season. We all remember his double in the Champions League against Real Madrid. He is endowed with physical power and explosiveness, rare for a player of this size (1.92 m). He is also very good dribbling. This season, he has 10 goals and 12 assists in 38 games. Only black point, his five-game suspension for spitting on the face, which has been talked about in Germany. Nevertheless, this season he experienced for the first time the jersey of the France team. His first cap was on 11 November 2020 with a 2-0 win over Finland. Again this season, Kylian Mbappé has had a phenomenal season. At only 22 years old, what he is doing with PSG this season is out of the ordinary. We do not need to mention the qualities of this phenomenon. This player trivializes the hallucinating with the number of goals he scores. He is currently the top scorer in Ligue 1 with 25 goals but also 7 assists. In the Champions League, it is also very strong with 8 goals and 3 assists in only 10 games. He carried PSG on this European campaign, which stopped in the semi-finals against Manchester City. We inevitably remember his hat-trick against Barca or his double against Neuer and Bayern Munich. But where will Kylian Mbappé stop? Moreover, the future of the native of Bondy is still unclear.Will it be on the side of the French or Spanish capital? Business to follow… However, the France team will need his talent this summer to win Euro 2020, after failing to reach the final in the 2016 edition against Ronaldo's Portugal. Finally, for the number 9 of this team, who says better than Karim Benzema. He undoubtedly the best French player this season. Due to his exceptional qualities as a striker, the OL-trained player literally carried Real Madrid. He took on the label of savior. From a personal point of view, we are not afraid to say that Benzema is having his best season in 2020-2021. In 43 games he scored 28 times for 8 assists. Remember, Karim never shoots penalties. With the real, he has just been eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League against the Blues of Chelsea. Nevertheless, he still has the opportunity to win La Liga for a second time in a row. After 35 rounds, Zizou's men are 2 points behind Madrid's neighbor and tied with FC Barcelona. Finally, we will not have the chance to see Benzema wearing the shirt of the France team this summer, during Euro 2020.