When it comes to pure footballing talent, no nation on Earth can match the depth of the French Football Federation. That reality was on full display yesterday when Didier Deschamps announced his 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico—because the players he left at home could form a starting XI worth nearly €300 million.

According to Transfermarkt, the combined market value of stars like Eduardo Camavinga, Christopher Nkunku, and Randal Kolo Muani sits at an eye-watering €273 million. To put that in perspective: that's almost as much as Croatia's entire 26-player squad (€283.30 million).

Fans were left scratching their heads over the omission of Real Madrid's Camavinga (29 caps) and Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso (28 caps). But the snubs didn't stop there. Angers' Jean-Philippe Lepaul—who has already netted 20 goals in Ligue 1 this season—and Juventus midfielder Khéphren Thuram also missed the cut, despite strong cases for inclusion.

Imagine this lineup: a midfield anchored by Camavinga and Tolisso, with Nkunku pulling the strings behind Kolo Muani and Lepaul up top. Add Thuram's box-to-box energy, and you've got a squad that would make a World Cup quarterfinal feel like the bare minimum.

From a sports apparel perspective, this is a reminder that France's "B team" is still stacked with talent worth watching—and wearing. Whether you're repping Les Bleus or backing an underdog, the depth of this generation is something to celebrate.