Euro 2024: Midfield metronome N'Golo Kante is France's driving force

For all their flair, France are forging a path to Euro 2024 glory through frugality.

Four games have yielded only three goals. Only one French player, Kylian Mbappe, has registered for Les Bleus, a penalty against Poland, while the other two went down as own goals.

At the back, the defence of Dayot Upamecano,William Saliba, Jules Kounde, Theo Hernandez and goalkeeper Mike Maignan are yet to concede.

During Monday's last-16 encounter against Belgium, a game that looked to be fizzling out was brought to life by the introduction of Randal Kolo Muani. The substitute's smart turn and shot saw the ball nestle in the Belgium goal via a deflection off the helpless Jan Vertonghen.

If the team has yet to really catch fire in Germany, one player who continues to shine bright is N'Golo Kante. The 33-year-old midfielder has been reinvigorated at these Euros, displaying all the guile and gumption that has characterised a distinguished career.

A mainstay of the French team that lifted the World Cup in Russia in 2018, Kante missed out on the 2022 finals in Qatar due to injury, where France lost a thrilling final to Argentina on penalties. The problem was his hamstrings, no doubt the result of years of wear and tear on one of the game's great box-to-box midfielders. It was one of a series of them to afflict Kante during what should have been his peak years.

During his final season at Chelsea, in 2022/23, Kante played only nine games. He played 42 the previous season and 48 the one before that, helping the club win only a second Uefa Champions League title and a first Club World Cup trophy.

Seemingly diminished, Kante was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge last summer at the expiration of his contract.

A free agent, Kante joined the