The N’Golo Kanté case continues to spark debate and questions, but for Didier Deschamps, one thing is clear. The French midfielder remains a sure value for the France team. Since his departure to Saudi Arabia for Al-Ittihad then his move to Fenerbahçe in Türkiye, some observers have regularly questioned his place with the Blues. The level of competitiveness of these championships, often considered inferior to the major European leagues, has fueled criticism and suggested that Kanté could gradually leave the French radar. However, for the French coach, these doubts never really existed. In his eyes, the former Chelsea and Leicester player remains an element apart, capable of bringing a unique balance to the French midfield.
Didier Deschamps did not hesitate to send a very clear message to those who still doubt his midfielder. “It’s confirmation. I called him back occasionally the previous year to save him some long trips. There are no concerns about N’Golo’s level of play, even when he was in Saudi Arabia. It’s up to him to maintain his level. It allowed me to see others, younger ones, and to gain a little more experience. He already has a lot. The quality is there, in a sector where we are a little more in deficit compared to the last World Cup. There are many for whom this will be their first major competition. N’Golo always has a smile, there is no problem. He is one of the many circles who can be at the World Cup. There are others who could be there. Even with an expanded list, I know very well that there are very good players that I will not take because, in my opinion, there are better players today.confided the coach to the microphone of TF1. A strong statement that almost sounds like a call to order. Because beyond the debates on the championship in which he plays, Kanté continues to be present at each gathering.
An essential asset
His consistency, his volume of play, his experience and his ability to recover balls remain extremely valuable assets in the architecture of the Blues. In a group where competition is dense with profiles like Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Adrien Rabiot or Warren Zaire-Emery, Kanté retains a singularity that few circles can claim. The figures from his last performance against Colombia perfectly illustrate this discreet but essential influence. With 76 balls touched, N’Golo Kanté was omnipresent in the midfield. Its precision in transmission remains remarkable: 52 successful passes out of 58 attempted, or 90% success. Even more revealing is his ability to progress the game with 26 successful passes in the opponent’s half (84%) while remaining extremely safe in his own half with 96% accuracy. Added to this are several key elements including successful dribbling and perfect success on long transmissions. Without multiplying the spectacular gestures, Kanté continues to do what he does best, namely stabilizing the team, making ball exits more fluid and covering an impressive amount of ground. Even his rare losses of the ball testify more to his constant involvement in the game than to any feverishness.
Finally, the debate around N’Golo Kanté seems almost eternal. With each change of club or championship, the same questions resurface: is he still at international level? Can he still compete with the circles playing in the biggest European championships? And systematically, the field provides the same response, as during Euro 2021. Through his activity, his simplicity and his playing intelligence, the current midfielder of the Istanbul club continues to justify the confidence of Didier Deschamps. In modern football increasingly based on spectacular statistics and ultra-offensive profiles, the 2018 world champion embodies an almost rare form of consistency. As long as he retains this ability to bring others into play and secure the collective balance, he will remain much more than an option for the Blues, but a silent and always essential reference, in particular to support Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Zaire-Emery…
