The French team was crowned world champion at the 2018 World Cup in Russia for the second time in six consecutive appearances. At the 1998 World Cup, the Bleus triumphed in front of their home crowd in their final round comeback after twelve years. After that, they were eliminated after the group stage at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan and at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
France, on the other hand, finished runners-up at the 2006 finals on German soil. Eight years later, France was eliminated in the quarterfinals in Brazil. France also finished third at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden and the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The Bleus also narrowly missed out on the podium at the 1982 finals in Spain, finishing fourth.
Previously, the French team was eliminated in the eighth and quarter-finals in the 1934 edition in Italy and the 1938 edition in front of their own fans. They also had to return home after the preliminary round four times between 1930 and 1978.
Didier Deschamps took over the French national team in July 2012. Before that, the former defensive midfielder and 1998 World Cup winner began his coaching career at AS Monaco. He was on the sidelines at the Ligue 1 side from the summer of 2001 until September 2005.
In July 2006, the 53-year-old signed with Juventus, which had been relegated as a result of the manipulation scandal in Italy. In addition, the Old Lady had to cope with a considerable points deduction. Deschamps, who played for the record champion from 1994 to 1999, nevertheless led the team back to the top flight as Serie B champions. Nevertheless, he took his hat off in May 2007. After that, from the summer of 2009 and until his move to the Bleus, the former six-man was in charge of Olympique Marseille.
Every French team player counts among the international elite. Although Ligue 1 is one of Europe’s top leagues, most of the players earn their money abroad. Five of them are under contract in the Bundesliga. Defenders Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez and attacker Lucas Hernandez play for FC Bayern. In addition, the offensive men Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig and Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen.
However, Hernandez, Nkunku and Diaby will have to live with competition from the likes of Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain) and Karim Benzema (Real Madrid). In addition, midfield all-rounder Paul Pogba returned to Juventus from Manchester United in the summer of 2022.
France remained unbeaten in Group D of the European World Cup qualifiers, achieving five wins and three draws. As a result, the Bleus picked up 18 points and six more than second-place Ukraine. The reigning world champions owe this to a record of 18 goals scored and three conceded. On this occasion, the French national team experienced two 1-1 draws against the Eastern Europeans. Moreover, the home match against Bosnia ended with the same result.
The French national team, ranked number four in the world as of June 23, will first measure itself against Australia, Denmark and Tunisia in Group D at the 2022 World Cup. These are the 39th, 10th and 30th in the FIFA rankings.
As a result, it goes without saying that the European selections are by far the most promising contenders to advance to the round of 16. The Bleus may have more quality than the Red and Whites in their ranks, but they too often fail to exploit their full potential. However, that does little to change the fact that they are among the closer favorites.
France will face Australia in the first group match. This will be a case of déjà vu. After all, the two selections last met in Group C at the 2018 World Cup, with the Bleus winning 2-1. The Bleus celebrated a total of three victories against the Socceroos and also experienced a draw and a defeat in 2001.
Like Australia, their second group opponent Denmark played the eventual world champions in the preliminary round four years ago. Strictly speaking, this was their third encounter at a World Cup. Just like against the Australian eleven, there was a 2-1 against the Danish Dynamite. But the two European representatives in Group D were also drawn in the same group of the Nations League 2022/2023 and the Scandinavians celebrated a 2-1 away victory in June.
Before the second leg in September, the French national team has eight wins, two draws and six defeats against the Danish eleven. Finally, there is the clash against Tunisia. The two teams played four friendly matches between 1978 and 2010. France won two and drew two.
We list here the betting odds offered by Bet365. However, they always represent only snapshots and can therefore change quickly. In addition, all odds are without guarantee.
Other teams in the World Cup Group D:
