Euro 2024 marks the fifth major tournament in a row where France is positioned as a top contender.

In the past four World Cups and European Championships, they reached the final thrice, narrowly missing a back-to-back World Cup victory at Qatar 2022 due to a save by Emiliano Martinez.

This exceptional consistency is due to France's deep reservoir of talent.

For instance, the emergence of Mike Maignan and William Saliba compensates for the retirements of Hugo Lloris and Raphael Varane, while Aurelien Tchouameni fills the gap left by Paul Pogba.

Similarly, Marcus Thuram’s strong performance at Inter Milan indicates he’s ready to take over from Olivier Giroud. This steady flow of talent continues as another French team approaches Euro 2024.

Culture is key

The team culture fostered by manager Didier Deschamps significantly contributes to their success.

Despite managing global superstars, Deschamps excels in making them subordinate their egos for the national team, prioritizing the collective over individual glory, a principle he personally upholds.

The reintegration of Adrien Rabiot and Karim Benzema before Euro 2020 is evidence of this, where Benzema scored four goals and Rabiot became a vital midfielder for France.

Deschamps’s blend of trust and merit in his managerial approach is evident in the selection of N’Golo Kante for Euro 2024.

Despite Kante’s injury struggles and limited appearances for Chelsea, his move to Al Ittihad saw him regain form, which convinced Deschamps of his value to the team.

"He has had a full season, albeit not in a European league as he plays in Saudi Arabia, where he has regained his full physical fitness," Deschamps stated on French TV channel TF1.

"And I think that with his experience and his background, I’m convinced that our team will be stronger with him."

The squad is also bolstered by young talents like Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola, both earning call-ups.

Griezmann the glue guy

While Kylian Mbappe, who led in goals and assists during the Euro 2024 qualifiers, is the obvious star, veteran forward Antoine Griezmann remains the emotional core of the team.

Griezmann, a constant in Deschamps’s squad, saw his consecutive game streak end due to an injury in March friendlies but remains indispensable due to his adaptability.

At Euro 2016, he excelled as a second striker, winning the Golden Boot. In Euro 2020, he played on the left wing to include Mbappe and Benzema, and in the 2022 World Cup, he adapted to a midfield role, leading in assists.

Now, at 33, Griezmann aims to achieve Euro glory in his final tournament.

France's recent Euro campaigns were marked by near misses - losing the 2016 final to Portugal and a shocking exit at Euro 2020 against Switzerland.

A World Cup win in 2018 underscores their decade-long dominance, and Euro 2024 presents an opportunity to cement their legacy.

⚽ France’s final squad for Euro 2024 ⚽

Captain: Kylian Mbappe

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Al Ittihad), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco)

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Internazionale), Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint-Germain), Olivier Giroud (Los Angeles FC)

Follow the Euro 2024 action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated Euro 2024 tournament page and stay updated with group standings and real-time match results and schedules.