Les Bleus may have come up agonisingly short in their bid to defend their crown in Qatar, but their window to challenge is far from being shut
And so it wasn't to be for France. Brazil in 1962 remain the last team to successfully win back-to-back World Cups after Didier Deschamps' team lost on penalties to Argentina in the climax of Sunday's dramatic final in Qatar.
Les Bleus' bid to back up their victory in Russia four years ago with another was a valiant one, but given the recent struggles that defending champions have had at the World Cup, that they even made it out of the groups was a decent achievement!
The good news for France fans is that their conveyor belt of talent is showing few signs of slowing down, and whether it is Deschamps or another manager who takes them forward, they will continue to head into major tournaments among the favourites to go all the way.
The next target will be winning a first European Championship since 2000 in Germany in 18 months' time, but soon enough all eyes will be on the next World Cup and doing it all again in 2026.
But which of the current players will still be around when the World Cup circus descends on the United States, Mexico and Canada? GOAL has had a go at predicting France's line-up for the next global competition…
Getty ImagesGK: Mike Maignan
Hugo Lloris will be 38 when the next World Cup kicks-off, and so the goalkeeper with the most appearances in the tournament's history has likely played his final match on the global stage.
If not for injury, Maignan would have been his primary back-up in Qatar, but the Milan shot-stopper should be elevated to become France's No.1 pretty soon, and at 27, it's a job he could hold down for a decent amount of time, too.
If for any reason Maignan doesn't make it to 2026 as the starter, then alternatives could be Nantes' Alban Lafont, who is uncapped but was called-up to the senior squad in September, or Leeds United's Illan Meslier.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Pierre Kalulu
With Benjamin Pavard and Jules Kounde having shared right-back duties in Qatar, France have shown that they are not afraid of playing versatile defenders at full-back, and that trend could yet continue through to 2026.
Pavard will be 30 and Kounde 27 when the next World Cup gets going, but we're betting on the younger man in Kalulu (22), who continues to impress for Milan and is deserving of a look in at international level in the not-too-distant future.
Another who is likely to come into contention is highly-rated Lyon teenager Malo Gusto, while his club-mate Sael Kumbedi scored twice as France Under-17s won the European Championship during the summer and is a name to watch over the next few years.
Getty ImagesCB: William Saliba
Premier League fans were probably surprised to see Saliba play so few minutes in Qatar, but at just 21, the Arsenal man still has plenty of time on his hands to make himself a regular starter for France.
He faces quite the fight, however, with a number of his team-mates from Didier Deschamps' 2022 squad likely to still be in contention in 2026.
Raphael Varane is perhaps an old 29 given the number of games he's played his career, but the likes of Ibrahima Konate (23) and Axel Disasi (24) should still be pushing for international honours.
RB Leipzig's Mohamed Simakan (22) has, meanwhile, been impressing in the Bundesliga, while both Pavard and Kounde are options at centre-back as well as at right-back.
Getty ImagesCB: Wesley Fofana
The fight to play as the left-sided centre-back is set to be just as intense as it is on the right, but we're backing Fofana to rekindle the partnership he had with Saliba when both were breaking through at Saint-Etienne.
Chelsea star Fofana may well have been in Qatar if not for injury, but he will still only be 24 when the next World Cup kicks-off, so should have plenty of tournament appearances left in him.
Another who missed the tournament through injury was Presnel Kimpembe, who at 27 does not feel done with the international game, while Dayot Upamecano (24) will fancy himself to justify selection for another World Cup too.
Throw in Monaco's Benoit Badiashile (21), as well as impressive Paris Saint-Germain teenager El Chadaille Bitshiabu (17), and whoever is managing Les Bleus in 2026 will not be short of defensive options.