• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Features 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP Team Profiles

Defence is a big question mark but France have the firepower

8 June 2018, 9:20 PM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
France have weapons which should see them at the very least progress from Group C.

France have weapons which should see them at the very least progress from Group C.

Image: Reuters

France have weapons which should see them at the very least progress from Group C.

France built their 1998 World Cup-winning squad around a rock-solid defence but 20 years on they could do just the opposite, with their dazzling array of creative, attacking talent ready to make all the difference at the 2018 edition.

Such is Les Bleus’ firepower up front that manager Didier Deschamps even has the luxury of not missing Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who has not been selected ever since being involved in a sex-tape blackmail scandal in 2015.

France can not only call on Paris St Germain prodigy Kylian Mbappe but also Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann however, Olympique de Marseille’s Dimitri Payet misses out due to injury. Alongside Griezman, the former West Ham man had shone during Euro 2016 on home soil before the hosts lost in the final.

In sharp contrast, the back four have been a recurrent problem for Deschamps.

Neither Samuel Umtiti nor Raphael Varane have been convincing this season as France, while twice using them as their centre back pairing in their last three matches, have conceded six goals.

To add to the concerns, centre back Laurent Koscielny has been ruled out of the tournament injured, limiting the coach’s options.

There are also question marks over another key player, Paul Pogba, following a see-saw season at Manchester United, where manager Jose Mourinho has been starting him only sporadically.

Yet France have weapons which should see them at the very least progress from Group C, where they face Australia, Denmark and Peru with a potential quarter-final against Spain or European champions Portugal on the horizon.

For while Pogba has struggled, holding midfielder Blaise Matuidi has in one season become a cornerstone for Juventus while Corentin Tolisso has also dramatically improved at Bayern Munich.

Indeed, Tolisso could end up paired with the Juve engine instead of Pogba, or even N’Golo Kante.

Up front, Griezmann is a very likely starter after another prolific campaign, his pace and delicate turns able to unsettle any defence, while Olivier Giroud as number nine also gives France an aerial threat.

The unsinkable Chelsea striker has scored with more headers than anyone in Europe’s top five leagues over the past three seasons.

The last attacking spot should be filled by the exciting PSG teenager Mbappe, who has steadily improved as he has sought to live up to his billing as the world’s second most expensive player since moving from Monaco.

No. Pos. Player Name

1 GK Hugo Lloris

2 DF Benjamin Pavard

3 DF Presnel Kimpembe

4 DF Raphael Varane

5 DF Samuel Umtiti

6 MF Paul Pogba

7 FW Antoine Griezmann

8 FW Thomas Lemar

9 FW Olivier Giroud

10 FW Kylian Mbappe

11 FW Ousmane Dembele

12 MF Corentin Tolisso

13 MF N’Golo Kante

14 MF Blaise Matuidi

15 MF Steven Nzonzi

16 GK Steve Mandanda

17 DF Adil Rami

18 FW Nabil Fekir

19 DF Djibril Sidibe

20 FW Florian Thauvin

21 DF Lucas Hernandez

22 DF Benjamin Mendy

23 GK Alphonse Areola

Share article
Tags: 2018 FIFA World Cup
Previous Post

Contenders ready for 2018 Comrades Marathon

Next Post

Pro-Palestinians march to Parliament on Quds Day

Related Posts

Stewards apprehend a pitch invader as Croatia’s Dejan Lovren reacts.

Pussy Riot members lose appeal over World Cup pitch invasion

23 July 2018, 9:09 PM
France's Paul Pogba celebrates at the end of the match.

Mourinho confident World Cup heroics will lift Pogba

18 July 2018, 9:51 PM
France fans react after defeating Belgium in their World Cup semi-final match.

France urges women to report World Cup sexual assaults

18 July 2018, 7:33 PM
France coach Didier Deschamps is thrown in the air by players as they celebrate winning the World Cup.

2018 FIFA World Cup review – Europe’s rise in dominance

18 July 2018, 6:12 PM
Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson during a press conference in Russia.

Iceland’s World Cup coach Hallgrimsson steps down

17 July 2018, 9:10 PM
(Front row from L) French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet, France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with the trophy, French Sports Minister Laura Flessel, (back row from L) France's defender Lucas Hernandez, France's defender Benjamin Mendy, France's defender Raphael Varane, France's midfielder Paul Pogba, France's defender Benjamin Pavard and France's forward Thomas Lemar pose for pictures and celebrate upon their arrival at the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport on the outskirts of Paris, on July 16, 2018 after winning the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match.

‘Africa real’ World Cup winners, says Venezuela’s Maduro

17 July 2018, 5:48 PM
Next Post

Pro-Palestinians march to Parliament on Quds Day

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • Green comet to be visible from SA next week
  • VIDEO: Mabuza resigns as SA Deputy President
  • Shock over proposed SA sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur
  • Budding Stellenbosch FC star reportedly stabbed to death
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Green comet to be visible from SA next week
  • Budding Stellenbosch FC star reportedly stabbed to death
  • Tributes pour in for Stellenbosch FC player Oshwin Andries
  • Mabuza asked to remain in his role until transition finalised
  • ‘SA will remain a sinking ship under the ANC’

LATEST

President Cyril Ramaphosa
 has called a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces at 19h00 on Thursday to deliver the State of the Nation Address.
  • Politics

Opposition parties outline their expectations for SONA


Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 5, 2023 Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane celebrates after the match after he became Tottenham Hotspur's all time top goalscorer Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.
  • Sport

Kane breaks Greaves Tottenham goal record, now targets Shearer


ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula together with party members at the January 8 anniversary celebration rally in Hammersdale , KwaZulu-Natal.
  • Politics

‘If you are lazy, stay home’, Mbalula advises ANC members


Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane is seen interacting with the school management team at the Geluksdal Secondary School in Brakpan on 03 February 2023 following the fatal stabbing of a learner.
  • South Africa

Emotional stress, gangs behind recent spate of violence in Gauteng schools


FILE PHOTO: Russian hacking underground newsletter is seen in this illustration taken, December 19, 2022 REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
  • Sci-tech

Italy sounds alarm on large-scale computer hacking attack


[File image]
  • Africa

One peacekeeper killed in Congo after UN chopper comes under fire


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Contenders ready for 2018 Comrades Marathon
Next Pro-Palestinians march to Parliament on Quds Day