World Cup
France Football Team Preview
With the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Hugo Lloris and Antoine Griezmann at their disposal, defending champions France will be one to watch in Qatar. Even the absence of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante should not rule France out as a World Cup contender.
France Football Team Record
Manager | Didier Deschamps |
Captain | Hugo Lloris |
Squad size | 26 |
World ranking | 3 |
World Cups qualified for | 16 |
World Cup titles | 2 (1998 & 2018) |
Home stadium | Stade de France |
Group | D |
What is France’s world ranking?
France are the third best team in the world according to the FIFA rankings, sitting just behind Brazil and Belgium in the top three, and ahead of Argentina and England. The current World Cup holders may not be top of the tree when it comes to the rankings, but ‘Les Bleus’ will fear no one after their 2018 success.
What group are France in?
France are in Group D for the 2022 World Cup. They will face Australia, Denmark and Tunisia. See all the World Cup groups for this year’s biggest football event.
What are France’s previous World Cup results?
France are two-time winners of the World Cup, as well as the current holders. They participated in the inaugural World Cup way back in 1930 but had to wait another 68 years to get their hands on the trophy for the first time. Zinedine Zidane’s heroics fired the host nation to victory in 1998, and then 20 years later France did it again in Russia. As talented as the current squad is, they will be wary of what happened in the World Cup after their previous win, when ‘Les Bleus’ failed to win a game and crashed out in the group stage.
What was France’s qualifying record for the 2022 World Cup?
France cruised through qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, going unbeaten and winning their group ahead of Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kazakhstan. Antoine Griezmann top-scored with six goals in France’s eight games, with Kylian Mbappe also chipping in with five.
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 18 |
Who is the head coach of France at the 2022 World Cup?
France’s head coach is Didier Deschamps, who lifted the World Cup as a captain in 1998 and then as a coach in 2018. Deschamps is one of only three men to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager, and the only one alongside Franz Beckenbauer to do so as a captain. The former Juventus and Chelsea midfielder is now into his 10th year in charge of ‘Les Bleus’.
Who is the captain of France at the 2022 World Cup?
World-class goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is France’s captain and was the man with the armband when Didier Deschamps’ side lifted the trophy in Russia four years ago. Lloris plies his trade in England with Spurs and has a wealth of international experience since making his international debut with France in 2008.
Who are the star players for France at the 2022 World Cup?
France boast a balanced, talent-rich squad with plenty of standout stars. Hugo Lloris is sensational in goal but the attack is the most eye-catching area of the team. Antoine Griezmann provides goalscoring guile, Kylian Mbappe is arguably the most explosive player in the world, and Karim Benzema is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner. Defenders will have sleepless nights worrying about going up against them.
What are France’s group fixtures at the 2022 World Cup?
Date | Time | Match | Location |
22nd November 2022 | 19:00 GMT | France v Australia | Al Janoub Stadium |
26th November 2022 | 16:00 GMT | France v Denmark | Stadium 974 |
30th November 2022 | 15:00 GMT | Tunisia v France | Education City Stadium |
France’s squad for the 2022 World Cup
Each country has a 26-man squad at the 2022 World Cup. Here is who France are taking to Qatar:
Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
Goalkeeper | Alphonse Areola | West Ham | 29 | 5 |
Goalkeeper | Hugo Lloris | Tottenham | 35 | 139 |
Goalkeeper | Steve Mandanda | Rennes | 37 | 34 |
Defender | Jules Kounde | Barcelona | 23 | 12 |
Defender | Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich | 24 | 7 |
Defender | Lucas Hernandez | Bayern Munich | 26 | 32 |
Defender | William Saliba | Arsenal | 21 | 7 |
Defender | Presnel Kimpembe | PSG | 27 | 28 |
Defender | Raphael Varane | Manchester Utd | 29 | 87 |
Defender | Ibrahima Konate | Liverpool | 23 | 2 |
Defender | Theo Hernandez | AC Milan | 25 | 7 |
Defender | Benjamin Pavard | Bayern Munich | 26 | 46 |
Midfielder | Aurelien Tchouameni | Real Madrid | 22 | 14 |
Midfielder | Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid | 20 | 4 |
Midfielder | Matteo Guendouzi | Marseille | 23 | 6 |
Midfielder | Youssouf Fofana | AS Monaco | 23 | 2 |
Midfielder | Adrien Rabiot | Juventus | 27 | 29 |
Midfielder | Jordan Veretout | Marseille | 29 | 5 |
Forward | Ousmane Dembele | Barcelona | 25 | 28 |
Forward | Kingsley Coman | Bayern Munich | 26 | 40 |
Forward | Christopher Nkunku | RB Leipzig | 24 | 8 |
Forward | Antione Griezmann | Atletico Madrid | 31 | 110 |
Forward | Kylian Mbappe | PSG | 23 | 59 |
Forward | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | 34 | 97 |
Forward | Olivier Giroud | AC Milan | 36 | 114 |
Read more about the 2022 World Cup in William Hill’s World Cup guide.