N’Golo Kante has answered the call for FranceShareAt 34 years old N’Golo Kanté is back in the France squad and could play an important part for Les Bleus at the 2026 World Cup.By Graham RuthvenBefore N’Golo Kanté there was Claude Makélélé. He was so effective as a destroyer at the base of the midfield they renamed the position after him. More recently, ‘The Makélélé Role’ belonged to Kanté in the France lineup, and the position might still be his after the 34-year-old was recalled to Les Bleus’ squad.Kanté hadn’t been called up in a year. Now playing Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, the midfielder is firmly into the twilight of his career. He will be 35 by the time next summer’s World Cup kicks off, but France simply don’t have anyone else who can do what the former Chelsea and Leicester City midfielder can.That is certainly the case at this particular time. Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni are both sidelined through injury, leaving Didier Deschamps short of options at the base of his midfield for France’s final two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Les Bleues still need a win in the first of those, tonight against Ukraine in order to secure their place at the finals. The stakes remain high.A strong showing by Kanté could put him back in the picture for a place in France’s World Cup squad. To squeeze the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise into the same forward line, Deschamps needs an anchor to balance his team out and Kanté appears to fit the bill.“I’m in contact with him. He’s at his best in the matches I’ve seen him play; he plays every three or four days,” said Deschamps when asked about Kanté’s surprise call-up and the level he is currently operating at in the Saudi Pro League. “He’s still potentially eligible for selection, and the proof is that he’s been selected.“He needs to maintain his position; he has a certain status, experience. When I call him up, it’s to give him a role, not just to be part of the team. With what awaits us in this match, which could be decisive, he’s always on my mind, in my thinking. The coaching staff and I follow him regularly. It’s always a pleasure for him to wear this jersey.”Kanté’s season summary since moving to Saudi ArabiaDeschamps’ critics say Kanté’s return to the squad is typical for a manager who has refused to evolve the French national team over the years. The 57-year-old will step aside as Les Bleus boss after the 2026 World Cup, but many believe he should have left his position a long time ago. Deschamps-ball has run its course.In Deschamps’ defence, he has integrated younger players like Rayan Cherki and Olise since the last World Cup. Their club form made them almost impossible to ignore, particularly in the case of Olise who has reached an even higher level since joining Bayern Munich last year, but France are fresher than they were at Euro 2024.At his best, Kanté was the best number six in the world. He did the work of two players at the base of the midfield for Chelsea, Leicester City and France. The Foxes would never have won the Premier League title in 2016 without Kanté patrolling that area in front of the back four and breaking up opposition attacks.France’s midfield pairing of Paul Pogba and Kanté was integral to their triumph at the 2018 World Cup. The duo gave Antoine Griezmann and Mbappé the platform to attack in the knowledge that the team’s structure was being held in place behind them. Without Kanté, France might not have won a second World Cup.Finding a younger version of Kanté has so far proved impossible. Eduardo Camavinga is a quality performer, but lacks the positional discipline to thrive as a number six. It’s why Xabi Alonso has experimented with the 23-year-old on the wing for Real Madrid this season. Camavinga still has a lot to learn.Manu Koné has potential, but doesn’t have the body of work behind him to suggest he can impose himself on games at the highest level. Warren Zaire-Emery could grow into France’s long-term Kanté successor in time, but the teenager isn’t even a first team figure for Paris Saint-Germain yet.Tchouméni is possibly France’s most rounded option, but he isn’t the fastest. This isn’t so much of an issue in possession. In a pressing structure, though, the 25-year-old can be played around by a nimble opposition midfield. He doesn’t snap into tackles like Kanté used to at the peak of his powers.That peak was a number of years ago. Kanté has faded physically and would only be a short-term solution for France to get to the end of the Deschamps era. Nonetheless, Kanté would be a solution for a problem that could otherwise derail Les Bleus at the 2026 World Cup. Next summer’s tournament would be one last job for him.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow every game from the UEFA World Cup qualifiers on FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.N’Golo Kante has answered the call for FranceAt 34 years old N’Golo Kanté is back in the France squad and could play an important part for Les Bleus at the 2026 World Cup.By Graham RuthvenBefore N’Golo Kanté there was Claude Makélélé. He was so effective as a destroyer at the base of the midfield they renamed the position after him. More recently, ‘The Makélélé Role’ belonged to Kanté in the France lineup, and the position might still be his after the 34-year-old was recalled to Les Bleus’ squad.Kanté hadn’t been called up in a year. Now playing Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, the midfielder is firmly into the twilight of his career. He will be 35 by the time next summer’s World Cup kicks off, but France simply don’t have anyone else who can do what the former Chelsea and Leicester City midfielder can.That is certainly the case at this particular time. Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni are both sidelined through injury, leaving Didier Deschamps short of options at the base of his midfield for France’s final two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Les Bleues still need a win in the first of those, tonight against Ukraine in order to secure their place at the finals. The stakes remain high.A strong showing by Kanté could put him back in the picture for a place in France’s World Cup squad. To squeeze the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise into the same forward line, Deschamps needs an anchor to balance his team out and Kanté appears to fit the bill.“I’m in contact with him. He’s at his best in the matches I’ve seen him play; he plays every three or four days,” said Deschamps when asked about Kanté’s surprise call-up and the level he is currently operating at in the Saudi Pro League. “He’s still potentially eligible for selection, and the proof is that he’s been selected.“He needs to maintain his position; he has a certain status, experience. When I call him up, it’s to give him a role, not just to be part of the team. With what awaits us in this match, which could be decisive, he’s always on my mind, in my thinking. The coaching staff and I follow him regularly. It’s always a pleasure for him to wear this jersey.”Kanté’s season summary since moving to Saudi ArabiaDeschamps’ critics say Kanté’s return to the squad is typical for a manager who has refused to evolve the French national team over the years. The 57-year-old will step aside as Les Bleus boss after the 2026 World Cup, but many believe he should have left his position a long time ago. Deschamps-ball has run its course.In Deschamps’ defence, he has integrated younger players like Rayan Cherki and Olise since the last World Cup. Their club form made them almost impossible to ignore, particularly in the case of Olise who has reached an even higher level since joining Bayern Munich last year, but France are fresher than they were at Euro 2024.At his best, Kanté was the best number six in the world. He did the work of two players at the base of the midfield for Chelsea, Leicester City and France. The Foxes would never have won the Premier League title in 2016 without Kanté patrolling that area in front of the back four and breaking up opposition attacks.France’s midfield pairing of Paul Pogba and Kanté was integral to their triumph at the 2018 World Cup. The duo gave Antoine Griezmann and Mbappé the platform to attack in the knowledge that the team’s structure was being held in place behind them. Without Kanté, France might not have won a second World Cup.Finding a younger version of Kanté has so far proved impossible. Eduardo Camavinga is a quality performer, but lacks the positional discipline to thrive as a number six. It’s why Xabi Alonso has experimented with the 23-year-old on the wing for Real Madrid this season. Camavinga still has a lot to learn.Manu Koné has potential, but doesn’t have the body of work behind him to suggest he can impose himself on games at the highest level. Warren Zaire-Emery could grow into France’s long-term Kanté successor in time, but the teenager isn’t even a first team figure for Paris Saint-Germain yet.Tchouméni is possibly France’s most rounded option, but he isn’t the fastest. This isn’t so much of an issue in possession. In a pressing structure, though, the 25-year-old can be played around by a nimble opposition midfield. He doesn’t snap into tackles like Kanté used to at the peak of his powers.That peak was a number of years ago. Kanté has faded physically and would only be a short-term solution for France to get to the end of the Deschamps era. Nonetheless, Kanté would be a solution for a problem that could otherwise derail Les Bleus at the 2026 World Cup. Next summer’s tournament would be one last job for him.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow every game from the UEFA World Cup qualifiers on FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.