I have several points that surprise me.
rather high class in defense… Well, I would say this defense is one of the strongest lines of defense that was ever taken to a World Cup!
Theo Hernandez = currently top 3 LV in the world
Saliba = one of the greatest defensive talents in the world
Varane = 4 x Cl, 1 x WM (again been an important factor at Utd this season)
Kounde = years at Seville absolute top performer then to Barca, although Chelsea has also bid, since then at barca undisputed regular player, both rv and iv
Pavard, Upa and Hernandez = all important pillars at the best club in Germany (Pavard and Hernandez can be used variably in the back four) both already CL winners and world champions
and so forth…
Apart from the fact that there might be one IV too many, this is absolutely top class in Europe! show the clubs alone: Barca, Bayern, Arsenal, Milan, Liverpool, manu
Make Germany and co more the elite?
Saliba, Kounde, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Kalimuendo, gouiri, Wesley Fofana,Diaby, Nkunku and of course Mbappe will definitely not have to hide in the next few years!!
This also to your point that the players are already too old… don’t think that Mbappe, Nkunku, Dembele, Kounde and co. to do this. I can only think of Benzema, Griezi and Kante. Even Varane and Pogba are “only” 29, which doesn’t mean the end of all days!
So I currently count three world-class players in this squad with Mbappe, Benzema and Nkunku! In Germany with Kimmich and Musiala two who play at this level. Sure Havertz, Sane, Goretzka and Rüdiger are good, but are they better than Dembele, Coman, Tchoua, Kounde, varane and Theo Hernandez? Can you argue about it?
I definitely have to agree with you on the point that French talents are often praised to the skies and also with the point regarding England. In my opinion, they currently have an outrageous number of good players and talents