France goes back to back?

France will go into the 2022 World Cup as one of the favourites to win the trophy. It would be their third time, and they would be back-to-back champions, something that has not happened since 1962 when Brazil won the title in 1958.  

It will be a very difficult tournament for Didier Deschamps’ team, that’s why it’s a good idea to bet on them or your favourite team, with this William Hill bonus code, to make the most important tournament of the year more exciting. 

 

The curse of the champion 

Since 2002, the world champions have been losing in the group stages or finals, France inaugurated the famous curse of the champion when in the World Cup in Korea and Japan they failed to get past the first round and lost in a historic match against Senegal. 

Brazil were crowned champions and by Germany, in 2006 there was talk of a double championship and a sixth star on the Canarinha’s shield, but in the quarter-finals, Zidane’s France knocked them out of the tournament. 

Italy were champions on German soil and was due to defend its title in South Africa, but to their surprise, the Azzurri did not make it past the group stage. They did not win a single match in a group with New Zealand, Slovakia, and Paraguay. National embarrassment. 

Spain lifted their first cup in Africa and by 2014 with this mature golden generation and with spectacular additions like Diego Costa, a two-time championship for La Furia Roja looked very likely, but once again, the group stage was the champion’s debacle.  

Germany beat Argentina at the Estadio Maracanã and travelled to Russia as defending champions. It all started badly when Mexico beat them in Luzhniki, the Aztecs’ first win over Germany in international competition. The Germans fought, but could not get past the group stage and abdicated the title. 

France won their second star in Russia and qualified for the World Cup without any problems. The draw was to some extent kind to the team, but looking at the last few World Cups, one has to wonder if it is possible for them to win the World Cup. 

 

Do they make it? 

The champions open against either Australia or Peru. The winner of the playoff represents a tough opponent for Deschamps’ side. Peru are all about effort, and defensively they are strong, Australia has raised their level a lot, and although they struggled in the qualifiers, they are a very serious team. 

If France doesn’t take any of these opponents seriously, they could suffer a costly setback, bearing in mind that their next game is against a team that has beaten them on recent occasions. 

Denmark is a great team. They beat the champions at the Stade de France and showed no signs of weakness. They have only lost two of their last 10 games and at the European Championship, they were the surprise package in the semi-finals where they lost in extra time to England.  

The Danes are the most dangerous opponent in the group because of what they have been doing and because they know the champions, so it is expected to be a very even match.

France’s third opponent is Tunisia. Usually, the teams that on paper are the most accessible are the ones that surprise the most. The “weak” Tunisia have nothing to lose and beating France would make them heroes, so they are dangerous.  

Les Bleus cannot be confident against the Tunisians. They must take it seriously because if they do not do well in their previous matches, it will be here that their passage to the next round will be defined. 

The crossing is not a simple matter. A possible opponent in the quarter-finals could be Mexico, Poland, Argentina, or perhaps Arabia. If they surprise in the group, none of those mentioned is easy. 

Argentina is out for revenge, having knocked them out in Russia in the last 16, and Messi has one last chance to get the trophy he is missing. 

Poland is an old acquaintance and usually, those teams you face in the qualifiers are the ones that are the most complicated because of their knowledge of you. 

Mexico already beat France in South Africa and beat the defending champions last World Cup, the Tricolor is not a comfortable opponent for anyone, and every time they play against teams that in theory have to beat them, they end up causing a surprise.  

Arabia is seen as the easiest opponent, but if Tunisia makes it hard for them, the Saudis will be worse. Their style of play is complicated, and they can make it very difficult for the French. Besides, if you play against the champions, you raise your level and that’s what France would play against, a team motivated to beat you.

The road to the championship is very complicated for Mbappé, Benzema, Pogba, Griezmann, and Co. Will they make it?