France soccer group in a file photograph. AFP
France are hoping to heed a warning from historical past as they kick off their defence of the World Cup trophy in a gaggle which bears a outstanding resemblance to the part during which they began their highway to glory 4 years in the past in Russia.
Like in 2018, Les Bleus start their World Cup marketing campaign in opposition to Australia and they’ll additionally tackle Denmark in Group D.
The one distinction in Qatar is that Tunisia full the part as a substitute of Peru, who misplaced an intercontinental qualifying play-off on penalties to the Socceroos.
France come into this World Cup billed as one of many main contenders to go all the best way, however previous expertise ought to educate them to be cautious.
In any case, no nation has efficiently defended the trophy since Brazil in 1962, and the final time the French went to the event as defending champions, they swiftly returned residence with their tails between their legs.
Having gained the World Cup on residence soil in 1998, 4 years later they went to South Korea as defending European champions and clear favourites to say one other title.
Hampered by an damage to Zinedine Zidane, they had been surprised by Senegal of their opening recreation and had been eradicated within the group stage with out even scoring a objective.
A repeat of such a situation appears inconceivable for the facet coached by Didier Deschamps, who’ve an assault led by the good Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, the latter contemporary from successful the Ballon d’Or.
Throw in Antoine Griezmann, Christopher Nkunku and Ousmane Dembele, and scoring objectives ought to be no challenge for Les Bleus, however they’ve issues elsewhere.
Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, their first-choice midfielders in 2018, are out injured, and a number of other others have been struggling for health.
“Throughout our final get-together we had been confronted with an damage disaster, however there are not any doubts in our minds, we all know how troublesome the World Cup is for everyone,” coach Deschamps informed AFP final month.
“France are nonetheless a aggressive facet, however we all know we’ll have rather a lot to do,” to retain the trophy, he added.
– Harmful Danes –Denmark, who overcame the traumatic collapse of Christian Eriksen to achieve the semi-finals of Euro 2020, have the looks of harmful outsiders.
They cruised via qualifying with 9 wins, and 30 objectives scored, in 10 video games and defeated France residence and away of their current UEFA Nations League marketing campaign.
“There’s a nice work ethic and a need to enhance as a collective. We might be actually good if we proceed to make sacrifices for one another,” stated coach Kasper Hjulmand, who now has Manchester United midfielder Eriksen again in his squad.
France and Denmark meet of their second recreation and that might be essential in figuring out who tops the part, with the hazard being that Argentina may lie in wait within the final 16.
Australia haven’t made it out of their group because the 2006 World Cup and didn’t win a recreation at both of the final two tournaments.
Graham Arnold’s facet solely certified for Qatar by the pores and skin of their tooth and simply successful a recreation this time must rank as a significant achievement for a facet brief on gamers plying their commerce in main European leagues.
In the meantime Tunisia are dreaming of getting out of their group at a World Cup for the primary time at what will probably be their sixth try.
The Carthage Eagles got here inside seconds of holding England to a attract 2018 and may draw encouragement from that efficiency coming into this marketing campaign.
Jalel Kadri’s group will probably be concentrating on a victory in opposition to the Socceroos of their second recreation to present themselves an opportunity of creating historical past and reaching the knockout section.
They are going to look to the Corsican-born Wahbi Khazri for attacking inspiration.
“We all know we’re actually not among the many favourites, however something is feasible in a significant competitors and we are going to attempt to spring a shock,” stated their Cologne midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, one other of the French-born members of their squad.
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