The 2018 FIFA World Cup is set to bring with it the blissful sense of unity and sporting thrill, set to take place in the glorious landscape of Russia as international footballing powerhouses test themselves out against each other in their pursuit of being crowned as world champions. One of the big guns hailing from Europe is France who are packed to the rafters with top-pedigree talents and boasts of some of the biggest names in world football.
Didier Deschamps has chosen the best 23 players he could find to face the ultimate challenge in Russia this summer. The Blues are understandably one of the heavy favourites to lift the golden trophy in Moscow but all could depend on how the team starts off against Australia on 16th June.
The country as a whole are coming off a heartbreaking final loss to Portugal in the 2016 Euro Cup final. The team performed at their very best throughout the competition but eventually failed to hit the mark in the finals.
This will be their 15th World Cup with one final win under their belt. Deschamps’ men will be travelling to the biggest country on the face of this planet, all ready to replicate the glory of 1998 triumph.
Predicted Lineup
France breezed through the qualifiers with 7 wins, 2 draws and just 1 loss to mark their place in this year’s tournament. Deschamps did experiment around with a few questionable names but for the final tournament, might just field the same team from the pre-World Cup friendlies against Italy and the United States of America.
Here is how Les Blues might lineup for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Defence
With Hugo Lloris taking up the spot in between the sticks, Djibril Sidibe, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti and Benjamin Mendy are predicted to form the defensive quartet.
Midfield
Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante are to resume their partnership from the holding midfield position with Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele filling in behind the centre-forward.
Attack
Olivier Giroud is the chosen one due to his recent scoring form and formidable bond with Griezmann in the final third.
Key Men
Mbappe scored the equalizer against the USA in the last warm-up match and is in the form of his life. The 19-year-old looks hungry to prove his worth against the world’s best and will be a constant threat from the flanks.
Griezmann is also a man to watch out for with him registering the golden boot in the Euro League and scoring 4 in the qualifiers.
Pogba will be at his commanding best from the central areas, making the quick one-twos and launching the 90 yard diagonal balls to create the team’s offence.
Prediction
We would not mind following the hype train and counting the Blues as this year’s champions mostly due to the prolific core of talent they have acquired. Surely teams like Germany, Brazil, Spain and Portugal cannot be written off completely but our bets hedge towards the Western European nation.
