Written by Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News:
No selection was more surprising than that of N'Golo Kante. Even before his move to Saudi Arabia last summer, Kanté, who had been so instrumental in France's midfield during their triumph in the 2018 World Cup, was in the wilderness. Injury saw him miss the 2022 World Cup and having failed to regain fitness, he left Chelsea – and Europe – through the back door. However, at Al-Ittihad Kanté has regained his fitness, playing 44 matches in his debut season and convincing Didier Deschamps that he is worthy of a return to the fold. "I believe that the French national team is better with him," stated Deschamps unequivocally. Kanté's international career had seemed to be over but it now has a second lease of life.