When N'Golo Kanté goes, everything goes. Surprise guest of this Euro after two years away from the French team, the Al-Ittihad midfielder (33 years old) made everyone agree. The match against the Netherlands (0-0) on Friday evening, in which he was one of the best players, extended an incredible series: Kanté has not lost any of his 17 international matches played in a major tournament, the European Championship. Europe and World Cup combined. This is quite simply a record in the history of European players.
In detail, the former Chelsea player has 12 wins and five draws with the Blues in major tournaments. During the rare French defeats over the period, he was not on the field, as during the Euro 2016 final lost against Portugal (0-1 ap). Note that there is, however, a subtlety, since even if Kanté played the entire round of 16 against Switzerland in 2021 (3-3, 4-5 on the tabs), this elimination is not considered a defeat but as a draw. He was not part of the 2022 World Cup, during which the Blues recorded a defeat against Tunisia in the group stage.
“Shocking”, “exceptional”, “amazing”… N’Golo Kanté is unanimous in the French team’s locker room. A real plebiscite. If you push the Blues to find a fault, they will tell you, with a smile on their face, that he is cheating at cards. That is just about everything. For the rest, compliments rain down at each press conference about the former Boulogne, Caen, Leicester and Chelsea player, surprise guest in Didier Deschamps' list, two years after his last selection, in June 2022.
After a blank year with the Blues, due to injury, and a season in Saudi Arabia, at Al-Ittihad, no one imagined him at Euro 2024. Even the main person concerned lost hope for a while. A return which did not fail to raise questions, due to the low level of the Saudi championship. Questions swept away in training, during friendly matches and even more against Austria (1-0) on Monday.
Didier Deschamps was certain that he had recovered all his athletic abilities.
- N'Golo Kanté's return to the French national team has been nothing short of remarkable. After a challenging period marked by injuries and a stint in Saudi Arabia, Kanté's performance against top-tier teams has reaffirmed his place among the elite.
- His unbeaten record in major international tournaments is a testament to his impact on the field. Whether it's his defensive skills, his ability to intercept passes, or his relentless energy, Kanté continues to be a crucial asset for the French team.
- The respect and admiration from his teammates and coach Didier Deschamps highlight not only his skills but also his character. Kanté's journey is an inspiring story of resilience and excellence in the face of adversity.
