The 6 Young Frenchmen Thriving in the Bundesliga
Now in the global spotlight, the wider world has the chance to see, first-hand, the plethora of young, exciting European talent on display in the Bundesliga.
Everyone on these shores will be very much aware of a certain English winger in black and yellow but it's the reigning world champions who can boast an even greater roster of potential in Germany.
Only Austria can lay claim to more foreign players in the Bundesliga than France this season - and those of a Gallic origin have contributed more goals than any other non-German nation. But it's not only in attack where these French phenoms have popped up.
This talent is spread across the field and throughout the Bundesliga's top sides. The next generation of players on the cusp of storming Europe's elite may be French, but they can be found in Germany's top tier.
Dan-Axel Zagadou (Borussia Dortmund)
The mountainous figure of Dan-Axel Zagadou has struggled for consistent minutes since Borussia Dortmund snatched him out of Paris Saint-Germain's academy as an 18-year-old.
However, following Lucien Favre's switch to a 3-4-3, the left-footed Zagadou has slotted perfectly into that three-man defence. Only injury has denied him a spot in the side since the tactical tweak and BVB look so much more balanced and assured with the 20-year-old in the side.
Nordi Mukiele (RB Leipzig)
Mukiele may not be one of the most high-profile names among RB Leipzig's squad (see below) but the 22-year-old's versatility and consistency are qualities which should not go overlooked.
Less than four years ago Mukiele played the full 90 minutes of a relegation six-pointer in France's second-tier; in March he started Leipzig's Champions League last 16 tie against Tottenham and barely put a foot out of place.
Whether it's at centre-back, right-back, in a back three or four-man defence, Mukiele will be one of his team's best performers.
Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen)
Another former PSG youngster, Diaby is part of an exciting Bayer Leverkusen side boasting the likes of young talents Kai Havertz and Edmond Tapsoba. But Peter Bosz's side have really only come alive since the turn of the year, not entirely unrelated to the remarkable upturn in form Diaby has displayed since Christmas.
The 20-year-old winger (who, unusually, often plays on the left despite being left-footed) has contributed eight goals in ten Bundesliga games in 2020. He may have four strikes to his name, but it's his elite ability to provide for others which makes him such an exciting prospect.
Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig)
A name at the top of every club's shopping list, Dayot Upamecano's time in the Bundesliga looks to be drawing to a close, as the end approaches faster with each commanding display he turns out.
The 6'1 centre-back brings all the physical attributes necessary for a top-class defender, but Upamecano also reads the game incredibly well for someone just 21 years of age, coolly stepping out of defence to bring the ball forward, at times with a little too much swash-and-buckle.
Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
As the son of a World Cup winner, Marcus Thuram is immediately lumbered with unhelpful comparisons to his father's stellar career. Yet, Thuram Jr has already taken some significant steps to escaping the shadow cast by Lilian's achievements.
After performing admirably in a woeful Guingamp side, Thuram hit the ground running in Germany and has been instrumental in Borussia Mönchengladbach's surprising title tilt this season.
His hulking 6'4 frame belies the quick turn of speed he possesses but it's Thuram's ability to spot the weakness in the opposition defence which has made him such a threat across Gladbach's frontline this campaign.
Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
The £11.7m fee Leipzig snapped Nkunku up for is surely one of the biggest bargains of the summer. A fellow PSG product in search of first-team football, Leipzig offered the perfect destination for the 22-year-old to hone his talents.
Nkunku's Bundesliga assists tally can only be bettered by Jadon Sancho and Thomas Müller this season, with the nippy Frenchman laying on the goals from a myriad of positions behind Timo Werner. Julian Nagelsmann has tested his mercurial starlet on either flank, as a number ten or even in central midfield, with the majority of Leipzig's attacks inevitably stemming from his boots.
Ones for the Future
Over the past few summers Bayern Munich have seemingly attempted to assemble France's World Cup winning squad in Bavaria, with Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernández joining Kinglsey Coman and Corentin Tolisso this summer. But 20-year-old Michaël Cuisance could be in the 2022 squad, having shown glimpses of promise, orchestrating the midfield from his left boot.
But Bayern aren't the only Bundesliga outfit with a monopoly on Gallic talent, as RB Leipzig can also boast the young centre-back Ibrahima Konaté. Upamecano may not have been quite the flavour of the season had a torn muscle ruled Konaté out in October. The 20-year-old had already spent a campaign as a starter in 2018/19 and should give Leipzig few reasons to fret in Upamecano's absence next season.