Will they fade out like other European counterparts?
Having won the World Cup twice in their history, France is coming into this tournament with a deep squad. The 25 men that Didier Deschamps has selected show that he wants to win the World Cup in his final year as the French manager. The depth of the squad that Deschamps has selected shows real intent, and he wants to show the world that he can win two World Cups, a feat that has not been achieved since Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo in 1938.
Deschamps has been questioned about his managerial style and his lack of tactical sophistication, but he has always done well at assembling a strong squad. The French team that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia had excellent team cohesion. It feels as though Deschamps has done the same thing for this World Cup with an ‘Avengers’-type squad.
Although the squad is formidable and includes a super-attack force, many suggest that France will win the World Cup. However, this galáctico squad might prove detrimental, as they could struggle against teams that set up in a low block, similar to what Arsenal did against PSG in the Champions League final.
Many football fans believe that France is going to steamroll other teams, but this might not be the case if an opponent sets up a solid defensive structure and plays on the counterattack with fast runners on the wings.
France could struggle to break them down. However, if a team sets up to play France at their own game, which is possession-based football, then the score could turn into something resembling a basketball match.
France has a chance of winning the World Cup, as they possess an £800 million strike force and are likely to score many goals during this tournament. The defence is not as strong as fans and pundits think, as Saliba and Upamecano are not as quick as many believe.
There are players in the French team who will excel in this tournament, but the team will not reach the final because Deschamps lacks the tactical intelligence to steer the team back to winning ways if they struggle to break down a low block.
The only way France can win the World Cup is by playing as a collective and leaving their egos off the field. The superstar status within the French team could be their downfall, and there is a high probability that France might reach the semi-finals, but winning the tournament seems a step too far.
