While France is a soccer team with world-class players and one of the highest ranked teams in the world, they might not cruise through the World Cup group stages as easily as one might anticipate.
Grouped with Australia who defeated the Czech Republic 4-0, Denmark (the highest ranked team in pot three) and the underrated Peru who qualified ahead of Chile, Ecuador and Paraguay – here are a few reasons why France is not guaranteed to escape the group stages.
1.) One of the greats needs to score more
While France has some of the best-attacking players in the world, France only managed to score 18 goals in ten games of World Cup qualifying.
Two other teams in their group, Sweden (26) and Holland (21), scored more. In addition to this, France’s Oliver Giroud and Antoine Griezmann scored four goals in World Cup qualifying with Kevin Gamerio, Paul Pogba, Thomas Lemar and Dimitri Payet scoring two goals. Two of the four didn’t make the cut.
2.) Results against weaker teams
In addition to losing against Colombia at home 3-2, not all of their qualifying results have reflected why France is seventh in the world.
France drew their opening game in the World Cup against Belarus, ranked 79th, in which they had 24 shots and 70 per cent of the possession. But Belarus held on for a goalless draw.
This also includes the memorable upset Sweden pulled off against France thanks to a winner by Ola Toivonen in stoppage time.
Lastly, France’s home scoreless draw against Luxembourg (currently 83rd) with 34 shots and 77% of the possession.
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3.) France’s 2010 performance
Could history repeat itself? France finished last in their 2010 group with Uruguay, Mexico and South Africa which didn’t look all that hard either.
While they drew without a goal with Uruguay in their opening match, they lost their last two matches 2-0 and 2-1 respectively.
In addition, last World Cup – England, Spain, Italy and Portugal didn’t make it out of their groups.
4.) Is Didier Deschamps the right coach?
The French coach, Didier Deschamps, has been criticized for ‘poor decision making’. In the Euro 2016 Final, when France were well on top against Portugal, Deschamps decided to park the bus, causing Portugal to score in extra time.
While it is uncertain if France would have won the match, the French fans criticized this decision.
In addition to this, when France lost against Sweden, he was criticized for starting Blaise Matuidi at defensive midfield instead of N’golo Kante.
He also drew the ire of critics by starting Dimitri Payet and Moussa Sissoko in the attack instead of Osumane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe.
His current results don’t support the claim that he has been starting the correct players, but who knows?
France is still a great soccer team and favourites to win the World Cup for a reason, but Australia should certainly put up some fight.
Good luck to Bert Van Marwijk and the Socceroos – but don’t be surprised if the Socceroos, the Danes, or the la Blanquirroja’s pull off an upset.
Group C is very open – so think twice before betting.
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