World Cup is upon us. The biggest sporting event in the world. Yes, the fans of the NFL would disagree, but so do we. The 32 national teams will create history once again as they face each other in the November WC. Yes, the timing is not what we’re used to but there’s a certain charm to it. Yes, this is a controversial opinion, but having a competition of this magnitude held in the Middle East was necessary for the game.
Some of the biggest nations in football will miss the competition (we’re talking about you Italy) but many powerhouses set their eyes on the World Cup glory. One of the nations that are always in the competition for the first place is of course France. They have been on the football mal since the days of Michel Platini, later Zinedine Zidane, and more recently Kylian Mbappe. We should also mention that they’re the team to beat as they’re the current holders of the trophy.
It is never easy to win a World Cup, and even harder to retina it. Four years have passed, and one pandemic at that, and the teams change. Some players retire, others lose form, so the selection France has today differs a lot from the one that won it all four years ago. Yes, Didier Deschamps is still at the helm, but the team is marred in controversy. In recent times we had Mbappe becoming the world’s best-paid player and to a point a PSG owner, and we witnessed the return of the experienced Karim Benzema to the team after being absent for years. The team has some big names, but what they might be lacking at the moment is the chemistry they had back in 2018. Let’s see if can France defend their title at the 2024 Qatar World Cup.
Source: pinterest.com
The Team
As we said, things have changed in the last four years. Some names are still on the list, but others are lacking. For one, Samuel Umtiti will miss the WC. His form is nowhere near what it was four years ago. Injuries derailed his career, and he saw little playing time both in the national team and in Barcelona. Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante are both injured at the moment, and the pair that anchored France to WC glory in 2018 could miss the upcoming competition. If you’re into betting you can try your luck, and back The Tricolore with some cash. While their midfield might appear weakened it’s not all that bleak. In the mid-time, we had the rise of two Real Madrid starlets in Aurélien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. At the back, their defense will rely on Raphael Varane and Dayot Upamecano. Theo Hernandez is the name to look at as the Milan superstar will try to leave an impression on the world. Of course, we can expect a lot from the newly included Jules Kounde and William Saliba.
While their defense and midfield are impressive, the true power of this team lies upfront. Mbapppe is one of the best players in the world which is a fact for some time now. Surrounded by the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Christopher Nkunku, and Ousmane Dembele he has a great chance of being the best player at the tournament and the best goal scorer too. We also shouldn’t forget their talisman Olivier Giroud and the most dangerous no.9 in the world – Karim Benzema.
Source: sportsbrief.com
France World Cup Group
One could argue that Les Blues was given an easy group to play in. but, is that so? Remember the 2002 WC when they had an early exit after losing to Senegal and Denmark and drawing with Uruguay? Guess who’re they playing this year? That’s right. France was drawn into the Group D of the 2024 World Cup in Qatar together with Denmark, Australia, and Tunisia. Remember, they have lost against Denmark only a few days ago. While on paper they should have field days against both Tunisia and Australia, the Scandinavians will pose a threat carried by the resurrected Christian Eriksen. All things considered, France will exit this group at the top of the table barring anything unforeseen.
After the Group phase, the teams from Group D will be paired with the teams from Group C. This is not too favorable for the Frenchmen but if you want to win it all you need to beat all opponents. Group C consists of the likes of Argentina, Mexico, Poland, and Saudi Arabia. The Middle East team will have a climate on their side, but with little to no quality, they will not leave this group. Messi and Co. will be first if everything goes in order, with Poland and Mexico battling for position number two. One of these two teams will go head to head with France. In a worse-case scenario, the PSG due of Mbappe and Messi will leave the battlefield in the round of 16.
Source: ligue1.com
Controversies
As we mentioned, the French team is marred with controversies. Back in the day, we had issues that were brought to light when a situation with Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena involving a minor and blackmail was revealed. Today we have a mutiny, racism issues, and good old witchcraft. Mbappe is at odds with the France Football federation, Pogba is blackmailed by his brothers and there’s a curse involved, while Benzema is still finding ways to gel with teammates after being absent for a long time. Also, who will start, him or the talisman Giroud? All of this could affect the team’s performance, and even if an early exit happens, we shouldn’t be too surprised. Also, one of their biggest stars, and a player who led them to glory in 2018, Griezmann is in a pinch with little playing time under his belt due to Barcelona/Atletico dispute over his playing time, wages, and value. France is in for a rough ride if you ask us.
Can they Do It?
Yes, there is a chance. They have quality and experience. Their players are stars. But, they need the stars to align. Some players need to find their form, others to recover from injuries. At the end of the day, they’re one of the favorites to win it all. But, if you ask us, they won’t. there are just too many things not going their way at the moment. In addition, the likes of Argentina, England, and Brazil above all else look far more competent. We shouldn’t also neglect the powerhouses such as Germany and Netherlands. All in all, we wouldn’t bet any money on France, and only perceive them as the dark horse for the World Cup title.
