Veteran midfielder N'Golo Kante don show say he still get the magic during France latest scrimmage, and social media fans dey beg Les Bleus head coach Didier Deschamps to give am chance for semifinal against Spain.
Kante, wey dey play for Fenerbahçe for Turkey, don dey bench for all six matches wey France play so far for the 2026 World Cup. Deschamps dey trust Kouadio Kone and Adrien Rabiot for midfield instead.
Even though Kante don pass im prime, many people believe say he fit be the difference maker wey France need for tight games. The team fit use am well when the match come down to one play wey go decide winner.
Fans dey hope to see Kante on the pitch for Tuesday match against Spain for Dallas Stadium.
Kante na one of only three France players wey never play any minute for the 2026 World Cup. The other two na Lucas Hernández and Robin Risser. Warren Zaïre-Emery don finally get chance, coming off bench for 75th minute for quarterfinal victory over Morocco.
Kante absence na big surprise. For years, Deschamps show strong faith for the veteran midfielder, and many people for France expect am to play important role for the World Cup. But reality don turn different.
Kante career don slow down for the past few years, but Deschamps never stop to believe for am. The France coach include am for last summer UEFA European Championship squad, where he start four matches and show say he still get the physical edge wey make am important for France 2018 World Cup triumph.
Deschamps even choose Kante ahead of Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga for this World Cup roster. The decision draw criticism, especially because Camavinga remain one of France brightest young midfielders, even though im club season no too consistent.
Kante don log significant minutes for France final international window before the World Cup for March, showing say he still get plenty energy. He spend two years out of national team between 2022 and 2024, wey coincide with im move to Saudi Arabia.
But im impressive performances for European Championship restore im importance for French squad. He remind fans why im partnership with Paul Pogba na one of the best midfield duos for France 2018 World Cup-winning team.
Pogba story unfold different. After signing with Monaco to revive im career and keep hope for World Cup, injuries and lack of match fitness end those ambitions.
Kante return to European soccer when he join Fenerbahçe for January. The move strengthen im chances to make World Cup roster. Im relationship with Deschamps don always be strong. He na one of the coach most trusted players during France golden era, and despite missing 2022 World Cup for Qatar, the two remain close.
For Turkey, Kante become automatic starter again, rarely leaving lineup and proving say im trademark endurance no disappear.
But France midfield don evolve. Manu Koné, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot don perform at high level, while Zaïre-Emery, PSG most-used outfield player for past season, continue im rapid rise. Their performances don reduce Kante opportunities to break into lineup.
This almost certainly be Kante final major tournament with France. By the time 2030 World Cup arrive, he go be 39 years old, and Zinedine Zidane wey expect to become national team coach go likely usher new era.
Even if Kante never step onto field for this World Cup, im place for French soccer history secure. Im unforgettable performances during France 2018 title-winning campaign establish am as one of the world elite midfielders, and im legacy with Les Bleus extend beyond the minutes he play.
