Arsene Wenger believes France are the “super-favourites” to win this summer’s Euro 2020, but he does think England could provide one of their main challenges.
Les Bleus are looking to add the European Championship to the World Cup crown they won in Russia three years ago.
Didier Deschamps’ talent-rich squad are the bookmakers’ favourite, with odds shortening even further following Karim Benzema’s shock inclusion.
The Real Madrid striker has been recalled from the international and wilderness and along with Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, will form the most dangerous attack on paper.
Due to that firepower going forward, Wenger is backing France to overcome competition from a group of central European nations.
“France will be the super-favourite of this tournament for many, many reasons,” Wenger said in an interview with beIN Sports . “The main one of course is they just won the World Cup in a convincing way in Russia.
“France is a young team. And they haven't peaked yet. And that’s why I believe they will be the absolute favourite as well.”
“Imagine that you can have Mbappé, Benzema, Griezmann and all the others, Coman and so. You would say that not only the offensive potential is exceptional, but even the offensive potential on the bench is absolutely unbelievable.
“You have players on the bench who would play anywhere else.”
“In that group of central European teams who look to be the favourites, it is France, Belgium, England, who this little group and Netherlands may have a chance.
“It's the core of Europe that amongst the favourites and in this group, I would put France above the others.”
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France’s modern-day players will be looking to emulate the achievements of Deschamps’ playing days when they went back-to-back in major tournaments.
Asked if this team has the potential to match those squads, Wenger added: “Yes, I believe they can. But they need to have that, I would say in style, 2000, for me was an exceptional team.”
“This team has not gone yet collectively to that level. They need to explore that together and try to get to this level.
“But they have a potential and maybe they have a superior, even an individual potential all over the pitch.”
Deschamps was captain for both of those tournaments and has urged his players to remain fully focused on the months ahead, rather than their honours in the past.
"Two years at the highest level is a long time, even if it is not a lot in life in general. There are obviously big expectations after the success we have had and that is the aim of this squad, of this generation," he said last month.
"Nobody can take away what we have done. It will always be there, but we need to tell ourselves that we can't just stop here, we need to go and try to win more titles.”
France take on Wales on Wednesday night in the first of their pre-tournament friendlies, before facing Bulgaria next Tuesday in preparation for their Group F opener against Germany in Munich on June 15.
