Defending Champion France will be trying to overcome the biggest hurdle for any World Cup Winner, the Curse. Famously known with '98 France being the first victim, every team who wins the World Cup goes out in the Group Stages the following World Cup with 2002 Champions Brazil being the only exception. This won't be difficult this time for France which is in Group D with Denmark, Australia, and Tunisia who aren't even near the capabilities that France possesses. Denmark stands as the only team capable enough of causing any kind of upsets. Of Course, Denmark's biggest achievement was the surprise winner of the 1992 Euros against all odds. Unluckily or luckily, during the 2018 World Cup as well France was in the same group as Australia & Denmark, where France finished first followed by Denmark and Australia which could again be the case.
The new change of increasing the allowed roaster from 23 to 26 will be a great help but, the French World Cup squad coached by the '98 World Cup Winning Captain Didier Deschamps will have obvious difficulties choosing his squad of 26 players given the enormous depth that France posses, some of the big names can receive an axe. We won't be able to change the decision of the gaffer, we can always predict our names.
Goalkeeper
Our Pick: Hugo Lloris
French National Team captain Hugo Lloris will retain his position both as Captain as well as starting goalkeeper for the defending champions with AC Milan Shotstopper Mike Maignan and Leeds United young talent Illan Meslier being his deputy.
Other names both worthy as well as deserving who might cut Meslier are West Ham United Keeper & Mercenary, Alphonse Areola, and Veteran duo of Auxerre's Benoit Costil and Rennes's Steve Mandanda. Another deserving name who might just be cut is another young talent by the name of Alban Lafont plying his trade in Ligue 1 for Nantes. Even thou just 23 years old has already played 207 career games in Ligue 1 and 34 career games in Serie A. But even with those numbers, I think that Illan Meslier has a better chance over the other 4 names due to his recent performance in English Premier League. Just 22 years of age has already played 79 games in EPL and was an important player during Leeds United's comeback to the top flight. He has kept 17 Clean Sheets in his EPL career so far, and with age on his side, he will grow even more in the future.
Mike Maignan was the starter against Austria in the UEFA League of Nations as Hugo Lloris is out injured while Maignan is also injured and is set to miss the clash against Denmark.
Defenders
Our pick: Raphael Varane, Lucas Hernandes, Benjamin Pavard, and Theo Hernandes.
One of the most vital positions on the side, choosing his starting 4 will be a tough task. This might sound controversial, but they're in their best form for their respective clubs. Other names for the squad are Dayot Upamecano, Presenel Kimpembe, Jules Kounde, Ibrahim Konate, Benoît Badiashile, Nordi Mukiele Jonathan Clauss, and Ferland Mendy.
Some of the obvious snubs that we made from our squads are Kurt Zouma, Clement Lenglet, Jonathan Clauss, William Saliba, Leo Dubois, Samuel Umtiti, Maxence Lacroix, and Wesley Fofana.
If the injury problems with Ibrahim Konate do continue, then from the available names, we would opt for Arsenal's defender William Saliba given his recent form for the gunners. Another name that can give some solid headaches is Chelsea's deadline day signing Wesley Fofana but he has to give a near-perfect performance to make his case. Aymeric Laporte would have made my squad of 26 if he wouldn't change his alliance from France to Spain.
Raphael Varane captained the side in a recent match in the UEFA League of Nations in absence of Hugo Lloris due to injury in what was a 3 at the back alongside Barcelona's Jules Kounde and Monaco's Benoît Badiashile with Jonathan Clauss and Ferland Mendy acting as Wingbacks.
The list of injuries in the defensive line-up includes Jules Kounde, Presenel Kimpembe, Theo Hernandes, Ibrahim Konate, and Lucas Hernandes. While none of them seems to be long-term injuries, these final international matches before the World Cup could be crucial for the eventual team selection.
Midfield
Our Pick: Aurélien Tchouaméni, Christopher Nkunku, N'Golo Kante, and Paul Pogba
Other names who could be in the squad would be Adrien Rabiot, Eduardo Camavinga, Boubacar Kamara, Youssouf Fofana, Jordan Veretout, and Mattéo Guendouzi.
While over the years there have been a few names who won't be making this year's World Cup squad due to their recent performances for their respected clubs such as Nabil Fekir, Tanguy Ndombele, Houssem Aouar, Steven Nzonzi, Corentin Tolisso, Moussa Sissoko and Thomas Lemar. Even with the injury & his time with Manchester United Paul Pogba might not be on everyone's list, but his performances for Les Blues have never been compromised, and we still believe, if fully fit he'll be on the plane to Qatar, and even starting some of the important games. Aurélien Tchouaméni is without a doubt the most strikingly obvious and stand-out name, his performances against Austria combined with his performances for Real Madrid since overtaking Casemiro's spot after his move to Old Trafford have been fabulous. In several matches, he has managed to bench Toni Kroos combining with his French compatriot Eduardo Camavinga and Uruguayan international Federico Valverde. For the 3rd spot, it'll be highly dependent on the formation and availability of players. If Deschamps plays a traditional 4-3-3, then our choice would be Touchameni, Kante, and Nkunku while for a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2, we would choose Touchameni, Kante and Paul Pogba or Antonio Griezmann with Griezmann as a False 9 or a 10.
As for injury scare, the list includes Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot, and Boubacar Kamara all are worthy to be a starter, Deschamps fielded a midfield 3 of Aurélien Tchouaméni, Youssouf Fofana, and Antonio Griezmann with Christopher Nkunku coming off the bench against Austria.
Forward
Other names include Olivie Giroud, Kingsley Coman, Antonio Grienzmann, Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembele, and Jonathan Ikone.
The names we are snubbing are Anthony Martial who hasn't started a single game for Manchester United due to injury, if he stays fit in the coming weeks and plays as he did in the Pre-Season friendly, he could be an addition. Alongside him, we have Moussa Diaby, Wissam Ben Yedder, Marcus Thuram, and Dimitri Payet.
Most probably the easiest of the selection for Deschamps if both of them stay fit would be Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe. Ballon D'Or 2022 favorite and UCL Winner is Karim Benzema who has scored 4 goals and 1 assist so far for Los Blancos in 6 matches and would be the focal point for the squad. He scored 44 goals and 15 assists for Real Madrid last season ensuring them UCL & la Liga titles along with 9 goals in 13 matches for Les Blues. With him will be PSG's frontmen Kylian Mbappe who has scored 10 goals in 9 matches this season and 4 goals for France in 5 matches. He was the main man during France's run in the 2018 World Cup scoring 4 goals in the tournament and winning the Best Young Player of the Tournament award but failing to score any in Euro 2020. Nevertheless, they'll be supported by Oliver Giroud who's eyeing Thiery Henry's record of becoming the highest goalscorer, he also holds a unique record of winning the World Cup without registering a shot on the net as a striker. Currently, he is the second highest goal scorer with 46 goals, just 5 away from Henry's record. So far this season, he has 4 goals and 1 assist in 9 matches for AC Milan, while scoring 14 goals last season in the crucial Scudetto winning season. His physical presence and link-up play up front would be crucial for the team. Ousmane Dembele and Kingsley Coman both will be wingers if they stay fit, and continue their form.
While the injury list upfront includes Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, and Anthony Martial as they played Kylian Mbappe and Oliver Giroud who was replaced by debutant Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele.
Our Final Squad of 26: Hugo Lloris, Mike Maignan, Illan Meslier; Raphael Varane, Lucas Hernandes, Benjamin Pavard, Theo Hernandes, Dayot Upamecano, Presenel Kimpembe, Jules Kounde, Jonathan Clauss, Ferland Mendy; Aurélien Tchouaméni, Christopher Nkunku, N'Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Eduardo Camavinga, Boubacar Kamara, Youssouf Fofana, Mattéo Guendouzi; Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Olivie Giroud, Kingsley Coman, Antonio Grienzmann, and Ousmane Dembele.
While the injury scare, recent controversies with Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba, and other issues surrounding Les Blues, Didier Deschamps will be having a big headache ahead of the 2022 World Cup as defending champions would like to break the curse and win back-to-back World Cup Gold.
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