France World Cup Team Preview | France WC Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

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CONTENTS

• France Odds: To Win World Cup
• France to Win the World Cup Odds
• France: Road to the Final
• France Previous World Cup Finishes
• France Golden Boot Odds
• France World Cup FAQ

France Odds: To Win World Cup

Reigning world champions France head into the World Cup this winter seeking to rekindle the spirit of Russia four years ago and atone for their disappointing last-16 exit from the European Championships last summer.

The France team, one of the favorites among sports betting sites to win the World Cup, is in a weird place right now. Having reached the 2016 Euros final and then won the 2018 World Cup, Les Bleus were expected to crush everyone before them at the subsequent Euros in 2021.

But that didn’t happen. A malfunctioning team lost to Switzerland and had head coach Didier Deschamps questioning what he could have done differently.

Eighteen months on and France arrives in Qatar in no better position. Karim Benzema is arguably the best footballer on the planet but is struggling to find the net. The midfield remains disjointed, and Deschamps is struggling to find a defensive system that works.

Consistency is key at a World Cup and France has none of it. What to expect, therefore, is difficult to tell. But sportsbooks evidently think they’ve still got a chance of glory come December!

France to Win the World Cup Odds

Indeed, France were the second favorites behind Brazil to win the World Cup. Their odds of about +400 were a bit better than England, and is proof that bookies and bettors were confident Deschamps can turn this ship around. After all, members of this team won the World Cup just four years ago.

Of course, actually living up to the tag as tournament favorites is difficult. This French team is packed with superstars but few are in good form. The likes of Adrien Rabiot, Matteo Guendouzi, Christopher Nkunku and Jules Kounde bombed when asked to step up against Croatia over the summer. France lost that game 1-0 and the result sent alarm bells ringing back in Paris.

Yes, the team has Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba available. Granted, Raphael Varane and Kurt Zouma can expertly anchor the defense. But there is very little consistency in the French team selection, and players can be dropped at a moment’s notice.

Odds Provided by bet365 - Subject to Change

France: Road to the Final

France enjoyed a fairly routine waltz into the World Cup, qualifying top of their European group that included Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Kazakhstan. Their only real hiccup was a tie with Bosnia & Herzegovina, while Ukraine held Les Bleus to 1-1 results in both of their games.

Pot Draw

France being defending World Cup champions, topping their group and being ranked highly in the world rankings meant they were guaranteed to be a top seed for the World Cup draw. France were placed in Pot 1 alongside the likes of England and Brazil.

Group Stage

France was drawn in one of the more intriguing World Cup groups for this winter’s tournament. The team will faced Australia, Tunisia and Denmark in Qatar. France beat Australia (4:1) and Denmark (2:1), but then lost to Tunisia (0:1). At the end of the group stage, Australia and France had the same number of points (6), but Les Bleus had a better goal difference and finished first.

Knockout Stage Games

First place in Group D set France on course with Poland, the runners-up of Group C in the round of 16. The team won that game 3:1 and played against England in the quarter-finals. France won the derby of the Old Continent with a score of 2:1, and in the semifinals, they won the game against the biggest surprise of the World Cup, Morocco, 2:0. Argentina waits for them in the final.

Final

Argentina met France in the final, and the result was one of the greatest games that soccer has had, in this writer's opinion. Argentina jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, then took their foot off the gas as France was able to equalize at 2-2. They finished out stoppage time and played an additional 15 minute period that saw both teams score in heroic ways before Argentina scored on all four of their penalty tries to finally win Lionel Messi's first World Cup!

France Previous World Cup Finishes

France has a rich World Cup history but it was not until 1998 – when the country hosted the tournament – that Les Bleus finally got their hands on the trophy. France was one of the original teams to compete in the 1930 World Cup. The team failed to get out the group stage that year. Here’s how their record has fared since:

• 1930 – Group stage
• 1934 – Last-16
• 1938 – Quarter-finals
• 1954 – Group stage
• 1958 – Third place
• 1966 – Group stage
• 1978 – Group stage
• 1982 – Fourth place
• 1986 – Third place
• 1998 – Champions
• 2002 – Group stage
• 2006 – Runners-up
• 2010 – Group stage
• 2014 – Quarter-finals
• 2018 – Champions

France Golden Boot Odds

Odds Provided by bet365 - Subject to Change

France World Cup FAQ

Has France qualified for the World Cup?

Yes. France is competing at the World Cup in Group D, alongside Denmark, Australia and Tunisia.

Why Is World Cup In November?

The World Cup begins in November because host country Qatar cannot stage games in the summer, due to the extreme heat. It was decided to move the World Cup to a winter tournament, which has disrupted the global soccer schedule.

What Is France’s World Cup Odds?

France is the first favorite to win the World Cup. The odds around -110 are the same as Argentina.

Will Mbappe Win The Golden Boot?

Possibly. Kylian Mbappe scored four goals at the previous World Cup, as did teammate Antoine Griezmann. Until the finals of the World Cup, he scored five goals and is the first favorite to win the Golden Boot.

When Has France Won The World Cup?

France has twice won the World Cup, in 1998 and 2018.

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