France: Will the best attack in the world offer a third star?
This year, France start the World Cup with two coronations already in their pocket and the status of reigning world champions. Can the Blues find the motivation in a reduced workforce to bring home the Cup for a third time (a second in a row)?
Between a World Cup that could bring France to a higher dimension, players who also want a star and difficulties to overcome, the Blues will give everything in this edition of Qatar 2022.
It’s time for France to make history
In history, only two teams have managed back-to-back World Cups: Brazil and Italy. In fact, Brazil of 1958 and 1962 is probably the one with the most marks in history, between the great epic of Pelé, and this incredible sequence since he won his third star in 1970. For Italy, the history is less glorious but it still retains its two consecutive titles, in 1934 and 1938.
That’s why it’s been 60 years since one team won two World Cups, and France may be the country to achieve this feat. It is an opportunity for some players to write history, such as Olivier Giroud, Raphaël Varane, Antoine Griezmann or Kylian Mbappé, who will have two World Cups to their name, which will undoubtedly rank them among the greatest in this sport . Another one who will have a chance to make history is Didier Deschamps. What could be better than one World Cup as a player and another as a coach? Two World Cups as a coach!
Be careful though because the group stage won’t be easy! In fact, the French already failed against Denmark in the Nations League (0-2) and this could be the team that stole the first place from us. So, two options are available to the Blues: a first place that offers a generally affordable opponent like Mexico, Poland or Saudi Arabia. Or a second place likely to leave Argentina in the round of 16.
A decimated midfield
Injuries do not forgive a world champion. In fact, the French workforce is more affected by injuries as some 2018 executives will not be able to participate in this edition in Qatar.
Firstly, it is the impressive midfielder N’Golo Kanté who, at the peak of his 31 years, still has a lot to bring to the French workforce. Injured with Chelsea for 3 months, he will not recover in time to play matches with the French team, and is in serious danger of disappearing from the Blues midfield. An absolutely wonderful shadow worker, Kanté achieved an extraordinary 2018 World Cup. He collected 52 balls in the competition, which is a record for a French midfielder since the 1966 World Cup edition.
By his side, in 2018, there was the great Paul Pogba. Aged 29, the Juventus midfielder has yet to play a single minute for the Old Lady side since his arrival this summer. La Pioche has been injured in his right knee since the start of the season and his meniscus operation did not allow him to recover in time for the World Cup. Our national Pogba is the player who won 58 duels, the record for a player in the 2018 World Cup.
What is not encouraging is the impressive success rate this pair have in the French midfield. In fact, the defeat against Switzerland in 8e the Euro final was the first defeat for the French team when the two midfielders lined up.
The best attack in the world?
If there is one detail where France shines, it is in attack. With the best attackers in the world, the French will terrorize all the defenses of the competition.
Karim Benzema, Ballon d’Or title-thirsty: Karim Benzema is probably one of the players who has risen to prominence at the club in recent years. With the Champions League coming out, KB9 and Real Madrid have won it all on the European scene. However, the French selection never smiled too much on Real Madrid’s number 9, who always found himself between scandal and poor performance. Therefore, Nueve wants to prove to the world that he can perform with his country.
Kylian Mbappé, on his way to making history: At 23, if there’s one player who has a claim to leave his name etched in football history, it’s him. In fact, Kylian Mbappé has already convinced the entire planet of football in 2018 with an absolutely amazing competition, it’s time to confirm for the Parisian. Qualified as one of the best players in the world for several years, he will bring this speed and this batting that will be a terror to all options.
Christopher Nkunku, jewel of Europe: The RB Leipzig attacking midfielder is perhaps one of France’s biggest surprises in recent years. Indeed, with 20 goals and 15 assists last season, and already with 12 goals and 2 assists in 14 games this season, the former Parisian has been in absolutely phenomenal form this season. Therefore, he logically deserves his place and will be keen to prove that he can perform at the highest level and impose himself on the best attack in the world, including the Blues.
Kingsley Coman and Ousmane Dembélé, or the art of turning heads: With a rare batting quality, the two wingers have quite similar profiles. Coman has been performing well at Bayern Munich and has already provided 5 assists since the start of the season. His characteristics of centers and overflow will offer a lot of caviar to the front attackers: Mbappé and Benzema. Moreover, Ousmane Dembélé is back to his best level. At the age of 25, he has already distributed 7 assists for 5 goals with FC Barcelona and will be a rare asset for the Blues.
Then again, we didn’t tell you about Olivier Giroud, amazing at AC Milan. Or the leader, who always shines with France, Antoine Griezmann…
France will no doubt rely on a fiery attack to win the World Cup in Qatar. In fact, the Blues undoubtedly have the best attack in the world but the harsh lack of the Kanté-Pogba pair in midfield could be costly. So, these are amazing battles that await us!
