European World Champions have been victims of the curse started by France after winning the 1998 World Cup and getting eliminated from the group stages in 2002. So far, France in 2002, Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014, and Germany in 2018 have been victims of this brutal trap. Many people thought France would be eliminated from the group stages in this World Cup. But France finally got rid of this curse and not only qualified for the round of 16 but progressed into Quarter-Finals as well. France is performing exceptionally amazingly. After looking at their squad and their performance, France looks like the strongest contender to win this World Cup trophy again. Let’s quickly go through the history of France in the World Cup matches.
History of France in World Cup matches
| FIFA World Cup finals record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Campaign |
| 1930 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | Squad | Qualified as invitees | ||||||
| 1934 | Round of 16 | 9th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Squad | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1934 |
| 1938 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Squad | Qualified as hosts | 1938 | |||||
| 1950 | Originally did not qualify, then invited, later withdrew | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1950 | ||||||||
| 1954 | Group stage | 11th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Squad | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 1954 |
| 1958 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 15 | Squad | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 1958 |
| 1962 | Did not qualify | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 1962 | ||||||||
| 1966 | Group stage | 13th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Squad | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 1966 |
| 1970 | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1970 | ||||||||
| 1974 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1974 | |||||||||
| 1978 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Squad | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1978 |
| 1982 | Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 12 | Squad | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 1982 |
| 1986 | Third place | 3rd | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | Squad | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 1986 |
| 1990 | Did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 1990 | ||||||||
| 1994 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 1994 | |||||||||
| 1998 | Champions | 1st | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 | Squad | Qualified as hosts | 1998 | |||||
| 2002 | Group stage | 28th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Squad | Qualified as defending champions | 2002 | |||||
| 2006 | Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | Squad | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 2006 |
| 2010 | Group stage | 29th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Squad | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 10 | 2010 |
| 2014 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | Squad | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 2014 |
| 2018 | Champions | 1st | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 6 | Squad | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 6 | 2018 |
| 2022 | Qualified | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 2022 | ||||||||
| 2026 | To be determined | To be determined | 2026 | |||||||||||||
| Total | 2 Titles | 16/22 | 66 | 34 | 13* | 19 | 120 | 77 | N/A | 119 | 70 | 26 | 23 | 234 | 91 | Total |
The defending champions France have an amazing journey at the World Cup stages. 1998 and 2018 are the golden years for France as a FIFA Champions. Let’s have look at their best performance on World Cup stages till now.
Champions in 1998 and 2018
Runners-up in 2006
Semi-Finalists in 1958, 1982, and 1986
Quarter-Finalists in 1938 and in 2014
Round of 16 in 1934
France’s team was pretty dominating from the beginning. They had a very strong impact on football. Great teams form with great players. France had very amazing players in their history who ruled FIFA in their time. Let me introduce you few of them.
Greatest French Footballers of All Time
Lillian Thuram (1994-2008: 142 Caps, 2 Goals)
Lillian Thuram was a great french defender, who played in France’s national team for the highest level of 15 years. He was never seen to be rushed, never panicked in any situation, and was the biggest headache for opponents attackers. As a defender, he even scored 2 goals in his carrier.
Just Fontaine (1953-1960: 21 Caps, 30 Goals)
Just Fontaine was the greatest striker of all time. In the 1958 World Cup, he scored 13 goals and made a record that took many years to break. In the match against Germany, he scored 4 goals in a single match in which France beat Germany by 6-3.
Thierry Henry (1997-2010: 123 Caps, 51 Goals)
At the age of 20, he was the top goal scorer for France in the 1998 World Cup in which France was a Champion. He is France’s all-time leading goal scorer and second-most capped player.
Michel Platini (1976-1987: 72 Caps, 41 Goals)
Modern football fans will see Michel Platini as a man in a suit and as a UEFA president. The man who guided France to their very first international trophy in 1984 European Championships. He played as the best mid-fielder for France.
Zinedine Zidane (1994-2006: 108 Caps, 31 Goals)
This man needs no introduction. Even young football fans who never saw Zinedine Zidane performing live fell in love with him. Zinedine Zidane‘s carrier was in two sides, one as a genius and another as a dark side. Two World Cup finals, three goals, one penalty, and a red card. Hmmmmm!!!! Too much in a single line. But he was the best footballer of all time from France.
Current France Squad
Now let’s have a look at their current squad. The current France squad is outstanding and they are very smoothly proceeding toward the World Cup trophy. All players are in amazing form and look confident. Have a look at their complete squad.
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Captain: Hugo Lloris
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Alphonse Areola, Steve Mandanda.
Defenders: Benjamin Pavard, Jules Koundé, Raphael Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, William Saliba, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konaté, Dayot Upamecano.
Midfielders: Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouaméni, Youssouf Fofana, Matteo Guendouzi, Jordan Veretout, Eduardo Camavinga.
Forwards: Kingsley Coman, Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Christophe Nkunku.
Unbelievable Squad!!! Each player you are looking at in the squad is a star. Olivier Giroud just became a top goal scorer for France. He does have 3 goals in this World Cup which shows he is in amazing form. Kylian Mbappé, what can I say about this man. He is completely dominating this World Cup with his unbelievable energy, perfect shoot, accurate passing, and up-to-the-mark crosses. Exceptionally talented Kylian Mbappé is the leading goal scorer in this World Cup till date. Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Koundé are also looking in great form.
How France can win this World Cup
Here is the possible way for France to win this 2022 World Cup title. From every group, we have selected some possible winners who might face France.
Round of 16 – France vs Poland
France already beat Poland and entered into the quarter-finals.
Quarter-Finals – France vs Argentina
If France win this match, they will reach the semi-finals
Semi-Finals – France vs Brazil
If France beat Brazil, they will reach the finals.
Finals – France vs England
By defeating England, France could be the winner of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar.
This is the possible way for France to win this World Cup title. Let’s see what they can do in future matches. But you can’t deny, they have the capabilities to win this title. What’s your opinion on this? Leave your comment in the comment section below.
Editors Choice: Can Messi’s Argentina Win FIFA World Cup 2022?
Croatia vs Brazil Quarter Final
England vs France Quarter Final
