Photo: Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Nations League football match between Denmark and France in Copenhagen on September 25, 2022 – France World Cup 2022 squad list, fixtures and latest odds – AFP/Franck Fife
by Alex McMonnies
THE TELEGRAPH, Thurs. Nov. 3, 2022 at 4:16 AM
France will arrive in Qatar as World Cup holders after an outstanding campaign in Russia 2018.
They also eased through qualification, going unbeaten in a group containing Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kazakhstan.
Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann ended as the group’s joint top-scorer with six goals and Kylian Mbappe was one behind him.
However, France coach Didier Deschamps has since stressed Mbappe needs more support from his team-mates after they recently lost 2-0 to Denmark in the Nations League.
“He can’t do everything by himself,” Deschamps moaned.
France, who will face Denmark again at the World Cup in November, finished a surprisingly low third in their Nations League group with five points from six games.
France World Cup 2022 squad
Each country’s final World Cup squad of 23-26 players must be submitted to Fifa by November 13. The replacement of injured or Covid-19 positive players is allowed up to 24 hours before a team’s first match. This year the World Cup will run from November 20 to December 18.
Who are likely to be their key players?
Hugo Lloris has been one of France’s most crucial players since the turn of the century and will likely become the nation’s most-capped player in Qatar.
At the ripe old age of 35, the Spurs goalkeeper has captained his country since 2012 and his experience as well as his reliability will be vital for Les Bleus.
Similarly, this year’s Ballon D’Or winner Karim Benzema is a man for the big occasion after a phenomenal campaign with Real Madrid last season. The 34-year-old racked up a staggering 44 goals in 46 club games during the 2021-22 campaign and was instrumental in them securing a record 14th Champions League title.
However, France will be without Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who have both been ruled out with injury and there are doubts about defender Raphael Varane..
Who, where and when do France play?
France will be playing Australia, Denmark and Tunisia in Group D…
What is France’s World Cup record?
France are defending champions, having beaten Croatia 4-2 in the 2018 final at the end of a near faultless run, including victories over Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium.
That was their second World Cup victory following the Zinedine Zidane-inspired triumph, when he scored twice in a 3-0 battering of Brazil in the 1998 final.
However, it was arguably the great midfielder’s head-first assault on Marco Materazzi and subsequent sending off that cost his side in the 2006 final, which Italy went on to win on penalties.
France boast some of the most talented players in the world and possess a particularly fearsome attack. They should ease through their group yet, while it would be unwise to rule them out of winning it again, France have a history of implosion on the international stage. Additionally, no team has managed back-to-back world titles since Brazil in 1958 and 1962…