AL KHOR, Qatar — It had turn out to be so uncommon for World Cup holders to supply even a reliable displaying — not to mention efficiently defend their title — on the subsequent competitors that it was straightforward to jot down off France’s possibilities earlier than the 2022 occasion in Qatar had even begun.
Even informal World Cup followers knew the historical past: on the three tournaments earlier than this one, the champions went dwelling within the first spherical. So when Les Bleus arrived in Doha final month on a dispiriting 1W-3L-2T run and minus two linchpins (central midfielders N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba) from their all-conquering 2018 squad, plus the reigning Ballon d’Or recipient as the world’s finest participant (Karim Benzema), latest historical past appeared destined to proceed.
Instead, after beating England 2-1 on Saturday on targets by Aurélien Tchouaméni and Olivier Giroud, France appears destined to turn out to be the primary nation to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil did it in 1962.
“I’m sorry, but you’re getting ahead of yourself,” French coach Didier Deschamps mentioned afterward when requested about the potential for repeating. “We’re going to the semifinals. We’re getting nearer to the ultimate.
“In the previous, although, the world champions did not at all times do properly within the subsequent World Cup, and we have managed to beat that problem,” he added with a knowing smile.
Of course, the longtime Les Bleus manager, who four years ago became just the third man to hoist the most coveted trophy in the sport as both a player and coach, knows that France took a huge step on Saturday. This was the best England team in decades, and despite being outplayed for long stretches at Al Bayt Stadium, the champs dispatched them with relative ease. France will now play Morocco on Wednesday (2 p.m. ET, FOX and the FOX Sports app) for a spot within the Dec. 18 ultimate.
“We knew it was going to be tough from begin to end,” said Tchouaméni, who opened the scoring just 17 minutes in on a blistering long-range strike but also conceded a clumsy penalty that Harry Kane converted to cancel it out. “We know that we’ve not gained something but.”
Aurelien Tchouameni makes a STATEMENT after scoring for France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup
It was a common refrain from the French players post-match. That’s part of the reason this side seems different. There is a quiet confidence brewing, and it’s beginning to percolate at the perfect time.
“The extra you win video games, the stronger you get,” Deschamps said. Then, as if catching himself veering from the messaging that has gotten his team here, he added the qualifier. “You should not neglect that you might want to be humble although. We cannot get carried away.”
France is not getting carried away, which is exactly what makes them so harmful. Lionel Messi and Argentina may be the bookies’ new favorite to win this World Cup after Croatia eliminated Brazil on Friday, but don’t bet against the French. They have both momentum and know-how. According to Giroud, there’s a familiar feeling inside the French camp.
“It jogs my memory of the success of 2018,” he said. That’s a bold statement. One could argue that he’s wrong. Truth be told, this France team looks better in just about every way.
Converted striker Antoine Griezmann, who assisted on Giroud’s winner, has stepped into the two-way midfield role that Pogba occupied and added attacking swagger. The 22-year-old Tchouaméni has been a more athletic, more dynamic, more offensive version of Kanté. Imposing target forward Giroud, who famously didn’t score during France’s run to glory at the last World Cup, has stepped in for Benzema seamlessly and now has four goals in five games.
Olivier Giroud makes an INCREDIBLE game-winning header
Les Bleus did not even want Kylian Mbappe to beat England; the main scorer at Qatar 2022 was marked out of the match by Kyle Walker and a rotating cast of other English defenders. Speaking of defending, the 2022 French squad is also better at that, as they showed Saturday by beating back wave after wave of Three Lions attacks.
It wasn’t an ideal efficiency, to make sure. Theo Hernández‘s inexplicable physique verify on Mason Mount shortly after Giroud’s goal nearly cost them dearly, but Kane sailed his second spot kick of the night over Hugo Lloris‘ internet with six minutes of normal time to go.
“Certain issues maybe we may have carried out higher,” Deschamps said. It’s still hard to quibble with the outcome. And while they’re still not quite there yet, these French players have the look of a champion. With their sternest test yet aced, they know the opportunity to claim their own bit of history is there for the taking.
“Our mindset is what permits us to win,” proper again Jules Koundé mentioned. “We are the place we needed to be, but there are nonetheless two extra steps left.”
England vs. France Highlights
Read extra from the World Cup:
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Doug McIntyre is a soccer writer for FOX Sports. Before joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a staff writer with ESPN and Yahoo Sports and he has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cups. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.
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