France have strung together five straight wins after thrashing Morocco 2-0 on July 9, 2026. Between the posts, Unai Simón is morphing into a Swiss-army-knife stopper who shuts down deep passes before they even reach the strikers.

What exactly is Simón’s role in Deschamps’ system?

Since joining the technical staff, Didier Deschamps has tightened the squad into a compact block. Simón, 28, is no longer just a traditional shot-stopper: he’s becoming the 11th outfield player. His advanced positioning lets him intercept through-balls before they reach Moroccan or Turkish forwards. Against Morocco he cut out three key crosses in the first half, one of which would have levelled the score.

Why does this profile shift the dial for France?

With William Saliba and Hugo Ekitiké still sidelined, the central defence lacks cover. Simón fills that gap by shrinking the space between defence and midfield. His pinpoint passing has launched six counter-attacks in the last five games, and his timing on exits has denied clear chances: he clawed away Hakim Ziyech’s header in stoppage time against Morocco.

The numbers back it up. Since the start of the 2026 campaign, Simón tops the big-five European keepers with a 78 % interception rate on deep passes. His influence stretches beyond the box: he’s recovered 14 balls in the opponent’s half, a French-keeper high over the same span.

What’s next for Simón and Les Bleus?

The next exam comes fast. On September 25, 2026, France travel to face Türkiye in the Nations League. The Turks thrive on rapid transitions, a threat Simón already snuffed out against Italy back in March. Deschamps has confirmed he’ll rely on him to lock down the central channel where Çağlar Söyüncü and Merih Demiral love to go long.

Squad-wise, the jury’s still out. Saliba may return by November, but Simón has already earned his spot. His contract runs until 2028, and Bayern Munich are tracking his progress. For now, France are banking on him to extend their winning streak to six and stay top of Group A.