World Cup 2022: France Have Look Of World Champs

Tunisia vs France

I got France in the World Cup 2022 ‘sweep’ at work.

While pleased, I must admit my initial impression was that I had landed potential semi-finalists rather than a nation likely to retain its crown as world champions.

However, after seeing some of the World Cup highlights from Les Blues in the first two group games, I am beginning to think otherwise.

That is because, despite a series of key absences through injury, Didier Deschamps’ side has a look about it which oozes confidence.

In Kylian Mbappe, France also have a special talent who is breaking records before his 25^th birthday – incidentally, the Paris St Germain starlet turns 25 on the day of next month’s World Cup Final.

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Against Denmark in a 2-1 victory which confirmed them as the first nation to be confirmed in the last 16, it wasn’t just that Mbappe netted both goals. It was more the sheer pace and skill that would surely cause sleepless nights for even the most accomplished defender.

As a result, Mbappe joined the great Pele as the only player to score seven World Cup goals before turning 25 and became just the second France player to score in three successive World Cup games after Just Fontaine in 1958 (run of six).

Mbappe has grown as a player over the last 18 months, adding a ruthless authority to his performances while scoring 39 goals and adding 26 assists in 46 games last season.

France have also become the first team to win six World Cup games in a row since Spain in 2010 – and football fans will know how that tournament ended for the Spanish.

This match against Tunisia provides Deschamps with the ideal opportunity to use some of the players in his squad who haven’t featured much yet. France only need a draw to top the group, while Tunisia – ranked 30^th in the world – may not even progress even if they were able to cause one of the shocks of international football.

A goalless draw with Denmark was a fine result in their opening match but they failed to build on that against Australia as they were pipped by a solitary goal.

That said, this is a team which deserves respect.

Didier Deschamps prepares France ahead of their World Cup 2022 match against Tunisia — France coach Didier Deschamps during their match against Denmark

The Australian defeat was only their second since January, since when they lifted the Kirin Cup in Japan after beating Chile 2-0 and the hosts 3-0, their first victory over Japan.

However, a 5-1 defeat against Brazil showed there remains a big gap between the improving nations and the established nations and, while they will have a hostile and unwavering support in the Education City Stadium, France will be far too strong.

Any country who can miss the likes of N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, world player of the year Karim Benezma, yet can still call upon the likes of Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Kingsley Coman, Ousmané Dembele and Olivier Giroud must have some depth.

As long as they avoid any further injuries, they will be in contention at the business end of the tournament.

History

This is the first meeting since a 2010 friendly in Rades when Issam Jemaa’s fifth minute opener was cancelled out by William Gallas in a 1-1 draw.

Four of their nine meetings have been drawn, including three of the last four.

The exception to that was in 2008 when the big guns of Thierry Henry (two) and Benzema netted in a 3-1 France win in Paris when Jemaa was again the Tunisia scorer.

Their very first clash came in the 1971 Mediterranean Gams when Ezzedine Chakroun netted twice in a 2-1 Tunisia victory.

This will be their first competitive meeting in a tournament.