Prime-Time First TD Bets — Monday Night Football, Week 16
Alex Christenson
France World Cup Team Preview
France
FIFA Ranking: 4
Manager: Didier Deschamps
Federation: UEFA
Group: France, Denmark, Australia, Tunisia
Odds to win World Cup: +650, DraftKings Sportsbook
Odds to win Group D: -195, FanDuel Sportsbook
Odds to advance in Group D: -1250, PointsBet
How did France qualify for the World Cup?
By dominating, kind of. France went undefeated in their UEFA qualifying group but not in a terribly convincing way, drawing to Ukraine twice and Bosnia & Herzegovina at home.
Who is France’s most important player?
Karim Benzema
This is probably the most difficult choice of the entire tournament as Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Raphael Varane are all worthy choices. That said, after being exiled from the French national team he has missed the last two World Cups, one of which France won. Benzema was also just named as the most recent Ballon d’Or winner. Benzema is the engine that makes the Benzema-Griezmann-Mbappe front three so deadly and if he continues his form France is once again capable of winning the whole thing.
What are France’s strengths, weaknesses, style of play and form?
France is expected to play a 3-4-2-1 that modifies as a 5-2-2-1 with Theo Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard playing as wingbacks and three center backs — Kounde, Varane and Kimpembe.
France’s greatest strength has to be their overall talent. This team is flooded with a talent of riches at every position. Nearly every player on the team is a coveted European talent with high level experience. This French team is a mix of Ballon d’Or finalists and up and coming wonderkids at every position.
France is so deep that it is tough to find a weakness. If picking at straws, one glaring area is at midfield where neither Paul Pogba nor N’Golo Kante will play in this World Cup. The question that can be asked is if Rabiot and Tchouameni are able to dominate the middle of the pitch the way Pogba and Kante have.
France likely didn’t take the second half of the Nations League too seriously, and it showed by only amassing one win against Austria and losing to Denmark twice and Croatia once. Still, I am not overly concerned about France’s form. This is a team with major international tournament experience.
What is France’s World Cup Outlook?
As they are in almost every World Cup, France is expected to win the tournament and repeat as champions. That said, no team has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil did in 1962. France has the talent to change that. If France win their group, and assuming most of the favorites win their respective groups, France would land on the easier side of the bracket to advance to the finals.
Best France World Cup Bet
France to Reach Semifinals (+150, Caesars)
As mentioned above, France has a pretty direct path to the Semi-Finals with England as their only real challenger.
France World Cup Roster
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Axel Disasi, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Koundé, Benjamin Pavard, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Varane
Midfielders: Youssouf Fofana, Eduardo Camavinga, Matteo Guendouzi, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jordan Veretout
Forwards: Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe, Christopher Nkunku, Marcus Thuram
Group A | Ecuador Senegal Netherlands Qatar
Group B | Iran Wales USA England
Group C | Mexico Saudi Arabia Poland Argentina
Group D | Tunisia Denmark Australia France
Group E | Japan Germany Costa Rica Spain
Group F | Croatia Morocco Canada Belgium
