FIFA Ranking: seven
World Cup history
– France has lost six of the twenty World Cups organized. it's additionally hosted 2 of them, the third one in 1938 and therefore the one in 1998 that had a whole nation on its feet screaming: “Alleeez France, Alleeez France!!!” 2 ape free kick headers by Zidane and a last half strike by Emmanuel Petit defeated Brazil and gave Les Bleus their initial (and only) World Cup trophy to date. France was the competitor in 2006, losing on penalty kicks to European country within the notorious Zidane headbutt game. The French have had their ups and downs in previous World Cups, finishing third (1958 and 1986) and fourth (1982), however additionally failing to urge past the cluster stage on six occasions.
How they qualified?
– France qualified for the 2018 World Cup by topping group A with seven wins, 2 draws, one loss and twenty three points, four prior second placed Kingdom of Sweden. However, Deschamps’ men did have issues grading, proved by a complete of solely eighteen goals in ten matches.
Didier Deschamps has usually baby-faced criticism over his alternative of ways, the lack to urge the most effective out of his team and for not forever utilizing his best players. The defensive midfielder will have a World Cup trophy below his name. below his steering, France lost to ultimate champions FRG within the 2014 quarter-finals and reached the ultimate of monetary unit 2016 (which France hosted), wherever it lost to European nation because of associate degree Eder’s extra-time strike. Therefore, France has been doing as good as with Deschamps as its head coach.
Full 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers:
Alphone Areola (Paris St. Germain)
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur)
Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille)
Defenders:
Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid)
Presnel Kimpembe (Paris St. Germain)
Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart)
Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City)
Djibril Sidibe (Monaco)
Adil Rami (Olympique Marseille)
Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona)
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders:
Blaise Matuidi (Juventus)
N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)
Steven N’Zonzi (Sevilla)
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)
Thomas Lemar (Monaco)
Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyonnais)
Florian Thauvin (Olympique Marseille)
Forwards:
Olivier Giroud (Chelsea)
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris St. Germain)
Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
France’s Group C fixtures:
France – Australia (16 June), Kazan Arena
France – Peru (21 June), Yekaterinburg Arena
France – Denmark (26 June), Luzhniki Stadium
Player to watch:
Ousmane Dembele
Antoine Griezmann was the most effective goalscorer throughout that monetary unit 2016 run and comes into this World Cup in wonderful kind, having diode Atletico Madrid to the Galilean satellite League title with 2 goals within the final. Griezmann is that the face of this new generation that’s thought of to be the most effective in French history and maybe the most effective in world history. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Paul Pogba, Thomas Lemar, prophet Umtiti, Raphael Varane… the list goes on and on. area unit|they're} the rationale why Les Bleus are seen mutually of the most favorites to achieve the ultimate in national capital.
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