Although somewhat controversial, the Qatar 2022 World Cup will begin in November 2022. Many have criticized FIFA because most national leagues were playing their games then. Nevertheless, from Australia to Senegal, everyone will cheer for their side once the tournament starts.
France has been a dominant force in the past few years, and they are currently World Cup Champions, beating Croatia and winning the Russia 2018 World Cup. Let’s take a better look at France’s recent games, check whether the squad has changed since the last World Cup, and calculate their chances of winning.
Recent Results
In 2022, the France National Men’s football team played 6 games, 2 of them being friendlies and 4 games that were part of the Nations League. While they were good enough to win their two friendlies, they did struggle to get a win in their last Nations League games.
The last game they played was against Croatia, the same side they faced in the Russia World Cup Final in 2018. The only goal scored in the match was by Luka Modric from a penalty in the 5th minute.
However, from what we’ve seen in previous years, the team comes together when faced with bigger challenges, and most of the time, it delivers. France is expected to win their next two Nations League games before the World Cup, which will be against Austria and Denmark.
Key Players
Since the last World Cup, there have been some changes in the team. However, some of the more important players, such as Raphael Varane, N’Golo Kante, Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappé, and Karim Benzema, will play.
These core players can place France on top of the world yet again. Varane, Kante, and Lloris are veterans that have been in multiple big competitions and know how to act or react when needed. When it comes to Mbappé and Benzema, these two will secure the necessary goals, with Mbappé being the best young talent and Benzema having the best season in his career this year with Real Madrid.
New young players have also been brought to the team. Ibrahima Konaté, Dayot Upamecano, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Christopher Nkunku and Moussa Diaby are the latest additions expected to make a difference. Other regular players that will probably come forward for the Qatar World Cup 2022 include Mike Maignan, Presnel Kimpembe, Theo Hernandez, Paul Pogba, and Olivier Giroud.
With a combination of experienced players and bright young talents, France will undoubtedly be considered a favorite in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The official team won’t be announced for another two or three months, so there can be some surprises. Fans can only hope the top players aren’t left out or injured when the World Cup starts.
Qatar 2022 Group Stage
France was picked in Group D, together with Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia. If we look at the rest of the groups, we can say France had a pretty lucky draft with somewhat easy opponents. France will play the first game in the tournament against Australia on the 22nd of November.
In an interesting happenstance France will face Denmark in the Nations League in the last game before the World Cup starts. This will be a test for both teams, uncovering what Denmark can bring to the World Cup. In retrospect, France lost their last game against Denmark by 2-1.
Suppose France manages to pass the group stage, which they probably will. In that case, they will go up against the runners-up or winners of group C, and the team will likely be facing Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, or Poland.
As the tournament progresses, the opponents will get better and better; however, there aren’t many other teams in the world that you can say are up to par with France.
Final Thoughts
There are less than 4 months until another World Cup graces our TV screens. Whether you are a fan of the competition being played mid-season or not, many will still follow it with passion.
As things stand, France is one of the biggest favorites, together with Brazil, Spain, England, and Argentina. Let’s hope that Mbappé and the team can go all the way and show impeccable skill when facing more vigorous opponents throughout the tournament.
