Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has selected France as his top pick to win the World Cup. The French team breezed through qualifying, securing five wins and one draw in six matches. As the 2022 runners-up, they begin their campaign against Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, followed by matches against Iraq and Norway. France is heavily favored to top Group I and advance to the knockout stages.
Wenger's Confidence in France
France has appeared in four of the last seven World Cup finals, with Didier Deschamps involved in three as a player or manager. Wenger believes the team has every chance to triumph again. 'I put them above the others. France have so much talent and Deschamps has experience,' Wenger told Le Figaro. 'We have so many attacking players that the danger is being a little unbalanced offensively. But today, the modern player, even an attacking one, knows how to do his share of the defensive work.' He added, 'When you're 0-0 against France with 20 minutes to go, you lose the match. Power makes the difference.'
Mbappe's Redemption Arc
Despite scoring 42 goals, Kylian Mbappe faced a challenging second season at Real Madrid amid dressing room unrest. However, he finished UEFA qualifying as the third-highest scorer with nine goals. Wenger backed the forward to shine: 'There's one man who is at the centre of all expectations: Kylian Mbappe. I'm ready to bet on it, he's going to have a fantastic World Cup.' He noted that Mbappe was unfairly criticized and arrived at an average Real Madrid team with only three or four world-class players. Wenger also highlighted Mbappe's physical freshness due to fewer minutes, saying, 'Kylian has everything it takes to have a great World Cup. He's physically fresh, he's not overworked.'
Deschamps Embraces Favourite Status
Deschamps acknowledged France's status as favourites, telling The Guardian, 'We're among the favourites. It isn't a taboo word for me. If we have this status today, which seems logical and legitimate to me, it's because of everything that we have done, the results we achieved.' He added that abroad, there is more recognition of France's strength.
France's star-studded squad and recent final appearances make them a formidable contender, with Wenger's endorsement adding to the anticipation.
