- N’Golo Kante is a French professional footballer
- He plays as a midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad and the France national team
- He will represent France at the Euro 2024
N’Golo Kante makes a surprise return with his name on the French national team squad that will represent the team at the Euro 2024 in Germany. He has not played for his national team in almost two years due to injury.
French football fans are happy to see the midfielder back on his toes ready to compete for a trophy. He missed the 2022 World Cup due to injury and his absence for nearly two years in international competitions left a gap in experience.
Though he missed international competitions for some time, his impact can still be felt as he was a key part of their 201 World Cup victory. His solid de will add another layer of protection in front of the backline, which is an important role against opponents.
However, apart from missing international competitions, he has been active in Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad this season, having played a full season appearing in various competitions including the league, Cup games, and the AFC Champions League.
Kante makes surprise France squad for Euro 2024
The player has been included in the France Euro 2024 squad after missing international tournaments for almost two years due to injuries. His last appearance for France in an international tournament was in mid-2022.
N’Golo Kante. Photo/We Ain’t Got No History
He played for his national team in the UEFA Nations League matches leading to the finals but did not participate in the final tournament due to an injury, and also missed the 2022 World Cup.
Appearing for the Euro 2024 had a significant impact because he was a contributor in the 2018 World Cup victory, where he acted as the team’s defensive shield, shutting down opposing attacks.
His team is certain that if he replicates this at the tournament, it could give them room for winning a trophy for France and his inclusion also gives his fans hopes of winning in another major tournament for the team.
Why was Kante absent from the French national team?
His absence from the national team for almost two years was due to several factors. During his time with Chelsea, he struggled with recurring injuries that limited his playing time thus leading to his omission from some of the major tournaments like the 2022 World Cup.
With his fitness a concern, he likely focused on club recovery before getting back on international grounds, having regained his form at the club level. He then moved to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Arabia Pro League and this likely presented a new playing environment.
So, he opted to first establish himself at the club before getting back to international football and appearing on the squad that will participate in Germany shows that he can balance perfectly between the club and internationally.
Kante’s level football career
His career journey has been from the lower leagues of France to thriving in European football. He started in France’s lower division with US Boulogne and SM Caen, helping them achieve promotion to Ligue 1 of French football.
N’Golo Kante. Photo/Eurosport
He then signed with Leicester City in the Premier League and was influential in the team’s win of a Premier League title in 2016, that earned him several individual accolades as well as becoming a fan favorite.
His impressive performance attracted Chelsea who signed him in 2016 and he continued his success winning another Premier league title in his first season at the club. This victory made him the first outfield player to win consecutive league titles with different clubs for more than two decades.
His success continued and this time he added an FA Cup, a Europa League, a Champions League, a Super Cup, and a Club World Cup to his trophy cabinet during his tenure at Chelsea. In 2023, the midfielder sought a new challenge with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad where he currently plays. In his first season at Al-Ittihad, he has established himself with his defensive stability.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login