N’Golo Kante once again showcased his brilliance for France, securing his second Man of the Match award in a 0-0 draw against the Netherlands at the European Championship on Friday night.
Kante’s stellar performance underscored why coach Didier Deschamps was adamant about including him in the Euros squad after a two-year absence from international play.
In a manner reminiscent of his display against Austria, Kante demonstrated his innate ability to anticipate threats, control the midfield, and serve as an impregnable barrier against the Netherlands’ attacks.
The former Chelsea midfielder’s last appearance for France was in a UEFA Nations League game against Denmark in June 2022 before his comeback in the friendly against Luxembourg earlier in June.
“N’Golo is still running,” Deschamps quipped in his post-match press conference on Friday. “But he doesn’t only run. He also has the ability to carry the ball up the field, which is important to complement our other players in midfield, providing us with variety and avoiding predictability.”
Despite Kante’s outstanding performances in winning the ball and his tireless energy against Austria and the Netherlands, France’s heavy reliance on him speaks volumes.
France has only managed to score one goal in their first two games, with even that coming from Austria defender Maximilian Wober.
The absence of star player Kylian Mbappe, who suffered a broken nose against Austria and missed the match on Friday, has been felt keenly.
However, more is expected from a forward line that includes Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembele, and Kingsley Coman.
Despite France’s wealth of talent, Mbappe’s presence remains crucial alongside Kante’s work ethic, which could make them the team to beat at Euro 2024.
