France's national football team employed a relentless high-press strategy during the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, a tactic that proved decisive in their matches. According to post-tournament analysis by L'Équipe and UEFA technical reports, the 'attaque bleue' focused on intense pressing high up the pitch, forcing turnovers and creating scoring opportunities.
Key players like Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann were central to this approach, often leading the press from the front. Data from Opta showed that France averaged 15 high-intensity presses per game in the final third, one of the highest rates in the tournament. This strategy was particularly effective in their group stage wins and the knockout rounds.
However, the high-press also required significant stamina, leading to substitutions in the second half of matches. Manager Didier Deschamps praised the team's collective effort, stating, 'The pressing was not just about the forwards; it was a team-wide commitment.' France ultimately reached the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by Spain.
