Kante shines once more, but France lacks the luster without Mbappe’s flair

After a scoreless draw in Leipzig, France and the Netherlands advanced to the final 16 of the 2024 European Championship with N’Golo Kante emerging as the unexpected star of the show in Kylian Mbappe’s absence.

After being brought back after a two-year international ban, Kante has reversed the years in Germany by winning consecutive man-of-the-match honors and regaining his position as the center of Didier Deschamps’ midfield.

Star player for France’s 2018 World Cup winning squad, Kante seemed to have had his fill of Les Bleus after leaving Europe a year ago to join Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.

Injuries had blighted the end of his spell at Chelsea and cost him a place at the World Cup two years ago.

Deschamps’ decision to bring back the 33-year-old has proven inspired despite some initial scepticism.

“N’Golo is still out there running,” Deschamps quipped in his post-match press conference on Friday.

“But he doesn’t only run. He also has a capacity to carry the ball up the field, which is important to complement our other players in midfield so we have variety and we are not always predictable.”

Questions have been raised over how big European names lured by the riches of the Saudi Pro League would fare when thrust back into the intensity of an international tournament.

But Kante has shown that a less demanding Saudi campaign could even be beneficial in comparison to those players worn out by gruelling seasons in Europe’s top-five leagues.

“It’s important (to make a good impression), especially when you come back to the national team,” said Kante.

– Mbappe missed –

As impressive as his ball-winning and boundless energy has been against Austria and the Netherlands, the fact the diminutive midfielder has been France’s star so far tells its own story.

The 2022 World Cup finalists have managed just one goal in their opening two games and even that came via Austria defender Maximilian Wober.

Mbappe’s broken nose against Austria, which ruled him out on Friday, has not helped.

But more is expected of a forward line that also boasts Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembele and Kingsley Coman.

Thankfully for France’s hopes of becoming European champions for a third time, Mbappe looks set to be able to return with the aid of a mask.