France At The World Cup

France has been a very successful team at the FIFA World Cup every 4 years. Although, the team has lifted the trophy only once, in 1998. In 2006, France finished the World Cup as runners-up. Just Fontaine is France’s leading goalscorer with 13 goals, all scored in the 1958 World Cup.

Fact: Thierry Henry has played in 4 World Cups (1998-2010). More than any other French player.

Group C Draw

France is ranked 9th according to FIFA rankings. France is drawn in Group C for the World Cup 2018 group stage matches. The other teams in the group include Australia, Peru and Denmark. France should easily top the group and progress to at least the semi-finals this World Cup.  

Expected Finish

France should make it relatively easy to the semi-finals this World Cup. Germany and Brazil will take up the other vacant semi-final spots. The only lapse in the French squad will be their defense, which is the supposed weak link in the squad. The average age of most of the key players in the French squad is really young as well. Inexperience may also be a key factor that will restrict France from lifting the World Cup.

Odds

Bookies and bet makers have placed France to win the World Cup at 6/1. Only Brazil and Germany have better odds of winning the World Cup with their odds at 5/1.

French Squad

France has so many brilliant players that they can field two different squads, each squad capable of making it till the finals of Russia 2018.

Squad A (Starting XI)

Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Alexandre Lacazette, Nabil Fekir, Paul Pogba, Ngolo Kante, Aymeric Laporte, Laurent Koscielny, Raphael Varane, Lucas Digne, Hugo Lloris

Squad B 

Corentin Tolisso, Karim Benzema, Moussa Sissoko, Ousmane Dembele, Thomas Lemar, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Dimitri Payet, Kingsley Coman, Anthony Martial, Layvin Kurzawa, Adil Rami, Alphonse Areola