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France are set to face a tactical balancing act at the 2026 World Cup, as their squad features an abundance of attacking talent that could potentially unsettle their team structure.

Les Bleus have brought seven forwards to the summer tournament.

Aside from Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain’s trio—Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, and Desire Doue—the roster also includes Marcus Thuram, Michael Olise, and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Rayan Cherki can also be classified as an offensive-minded player.

Head coach Didier Deschamps frequently deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation.

In this setup, the “3-1” segment is typically occupied by attacking players.

These four players are primarily focused on breaking down the opposition’s defence.

However, this offensive emphasis can leave the team’s balance vulnerable when too many players push forward.

This issue was evident during France’s final warm-up match before the 2026 World Cup on June 4.

Facing Ivory Coast in Nantes, Les Bleus suffered a 1-2 defeat despite holding 56% possession and recording 13 shots—nearly double their opponent’s total of 7.

Ivory Coast capitalised on the gaps that appeared in France’s defensive line after initially falling behind.

In response to this, midfielder Adrien Rabiot expressed his willingness to adjust his role for the team’s sake.

The AC Milan star, who is known for his forward runs from midfield, is prepared to play a more defensive role in the tournament.

At Milan, the former PSG and Juventus player scored six goals in 29 Serie A appearances last season.

But for the 2026 World Cup, Rabiot confirmed that he is ready to prioritise defensive duties.

He is expected to be one of the two midfielders in Deschamps’ 4-2-3-1 formation.

“With four attacking players in front of us, I’ll take on a more defensive role,” he told Milannews.

“There’s a lot of work to be done. We’ll need to cover plenty of gaps.”

“We have to maintain the balance of the team.”

“It doesn’t mean the coach is limiting us from moving forward,” he added.

“But with this formation, and four exceptionally talented attackers ahead of us who can make the difference, we need to find the right solution.”

France will play one more friendly against Northern Ireland on Monday (8 June 2026) in Lille.

After that, Deschamps’ squad will travel to the United States.

In the 2026 World Cup, France are placed in Group I.

They will open their campaign against Senegal on 16 June in New Jersey, followed by a clash with Iraq in Pennsylvania on 22 June.

Their final group match will see them face Norway in Massachusetts on 26 June.