France aims to eclipse previous glories at World Cup 2026
France’s Dominance and Attacking Prowess
France, winners of the World Cup in 1998 and 2018, have established themselves as strong contenders for the 2026 competition. Their recent 2-0 victory over Morocco on Thursday secured their place as the first nation in the semi-finals, showcasing their form. This win in Boston featured two goals within a six-minute period in the second half, with Kylian Mbappe scoring the opener, followed by a goal from Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele.
These goals marked France’s 15th and 16th in the tournament, a higher tally than any other team at that point. Mbappe’s goal, despite a first-half penalty save, was his eighth of the tournament, placing him level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi as a top scorer. Mbappe currently leads the race for the Golden Boot due to having more assists. Dembele has now scored five goals in this tournament. France is only the second team in the last 50 years to have two players score five or more goals in the same World Cup tournament, a feat previously achieved by Brazil in 2002 with Ronaldo and Rivaldo.
Former Scotland striker Pat Nevin described France as the most dangerous attacking team in the tournament, highlighting their multiple threats. Former England striker Ian Wright also called Didier Deschamps’ side one of the most clear favourites he had ever seen for a World Cup tournament. After their dominant victory over Morocco, where France had 22 attempts compared to five from Morocco, Wright noted the team’s imperious form and individual brilliance.
Deschamps’ Tenure and Squad Depth
Didier Deschamps has managed the French team since 2012 and has indicated that this will be his final tournament in charge. During his 14-year tenure, France won the 2018 World Cup and were runners-up in the 2022 final against Argentina. They also lost to Portugal in the final of the 2016 European Championship and were defeated 2-1 by Spain in the semi-finals of Euro 24.
France began this tournament ranked third globally, behind reigning holders Argentina and current European champions Spain. Spain started their campaign with a goalless draw against Cape Verde but reached the quarter-finals without conceding a goal. Former midfielder Patrick Vieira, who played in France’s 3-0 final win over Brazil in 1998, believes the current squad is on the verge of greatness and expects Deschamps to guide France to a third successive final.
Vieira stated that France is a better team now than four years ago, while he does not believe Spain has improved in the same period. He expressed confidence that France would not face significant issues against Spain if they meet. The squad boasts a wealth of attacking talent beyond Mbappe and Dembele, including Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue, Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, and Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Path to the Final and Potential Challenges
Defensively, France has conceded only two goals in six games in the tournament. These were conceded late in a 3-1 win over Senegal and once in a 4-1 victory over Norway, though Norway had rested many of their key players after already qualifying. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane noted that France has more to offer and possesses attacking players who score goals and excel individually.
France has maintained a flawless record so far, having beaten Senegal, Iraq, Norway, Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco. They are two wins away from securing a third world title. However, Nevin cautioned against complacency, suggesting that the only team capable of stopping France might be themselves if they fail to perform at their best. If Spain defeats Belgium in their quarter-final on Friday, they will face France in the semi-finals in Dallas on Tuesday.
The USA, despite a last-16 exit, can reflect on their performance with pride, reaching that stage with a limited number of top-level players and no clear superstar. Belgium progressed with ease, while Switzerland advanced past Colombia in a penalty shootout, setting up a match against Argentina. Argentina, the reigning champions, staged a comeback from two goals down against Egypt, with Lionel Messi playing a crucial role in scoring and creating the winning goal.
The tournament has also seen other notable events, such as the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s red card for the USA against Belgium, which was later rescinded. Cristiano Ronaldo’s involvement in the tournament was largely ineffective, with Portugal suffering a last-16 exit to Spain. The final of the 2026 World Cup is scheduled for July 19.
Source: bbc.com
