World Cup: France get their title defence off to the perfect start
By
Share this article:
France’s defence of the FIFA World Cup trophy got off to the perfect start with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Australia on day three of Qatar 2022. Les Bleus headed to the Arabian Gulf State as reigning champions. Four years ago, they defeated Croatia 4-2 in Moscow courtesy of a masterclass from a 19-year-old wonderkid named Kylian Mbappe to lift the famous gold trophy for the second time. And the now matured Paris Saint Germain superstar was up to his old tricks once again in their opening day victory.
OddsChecker, which compares World Cup odds and free offers, had made Les Bleus huge favorites for their tussle with the Socceroos, and they didn’t disappoint. A double for Giroud - who matched Thierry Henry’s all-time goal-scoring record in the process - as well as goals from Mbappe and Adrien Rabiot, was enough to secure a 4-1 victory in Al Wukair. But it was the brilliant Mbappe who stole the show.
Aside from getting on the scoresheet, he also provided an assist for one of Giroud’s goals, as well as touching the ball a mammoth 18 times in the opposition penalty area. If the 23-year-old can continue as he has done, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the French head into the latter stages of the tournament once again, perhaps even facing off with England in a mouth-watering quarter-final.
More difficult tests will follow, firstly against Denmark, who have proven to be a thorn in France's side in the last few months. The Danes beat Deschamps’ side home and away in the recent UEFA Nations League campaign, and they will be hoping for a third successive victory in a few days' time. Following that, Tunisia await in the final group game, a fixture that promises fireworks thanks to the pair's shared history during earlier days of football.
A great start, but enough to conquer the champion's curse?
Depending on your knowledge of football, you may or may not know that four of the last five reigning champions to head to the World Cup have had their title defense end at the first hurdle.
In Russia four years ago, it was Germany who had fate intervene against them. They lost against Mexico and South Korea to finish bottom of their group for the first time in World Cup history. That was four years on from their finest hour, when they defeated Argentina in Rio De Janeiro to lift the trophy for the first time since 1990.
Spain entered that tournament in Brazil as the reigning champions. However, they exited at the group stages courtesy of back-to-back defeats in their opening two games, firstly against the Netherlands and then against Chile. Another victim of the champion's curse.
In 2010, Italy headed to South Africa looking to defend their crown. Draws against New Zealand and Paraguay meant that they needed to beat Slovakia in their final group game to advance. They couldn’t manage it, succumbing to a 3-2 defeat and also exiting in the opening round.
The curse originally began back in 2002 with France. They traveled to Japan and South Korea four years after defeating Brazil in Paris via a Zinedine Zidane brace to lift the World Cup for the first time. But in the far east, disaster struck immediately. They lost to tournament debutantes Senegal in their opening game. Then, they only managed a 0-0 draw against Uruguay in their second game.
France needed to win their final group game against Denmark to progress, but a 2-0 defeat meant that one of the greatest shocks in the history of the tournament had happened. The champions headed home and the dreaded curse was born.
20 years on from that painful trip to the land of the rising sun, the French will be hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself. They've had an excellent start to the tournament. But with Denmark in their group once again, perhaps an early exit is written in the stars?
France’s defence of the FIFA World Cup trophy got off to the perfect start with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Australia on day three of Qatar 2022. Les Bleus headed to the Arabian Gulf State as reigning champions. Four years ago, they defeated Croatia 4-2 in Moscow courtesy of a masterclass from a 19-year-old wonderkid named Kylian Mbappe to lift the famous gold trophy for the second time. And the now matured Paris Saint Germain superstar was up to his old tricks once again in their opening day victory.
OddsChecker, which compares World Cup odds and free offers, had made Les Bleus huge favorites for their tussle with the Socceroos, and they didn’t disappoint. A double for Giroud - who matched Thierry Henry’s all-time goal-scoring record in the process - as well as goals from Mbappe and Adrien Rabiot, was enough to secure a 4-1 victory in Al Wukair. But it was the brilliant Mbappe who stole the show.
Aside from getting on the scoresheet, he also provided an assist for one of Giroud’s goals, as well as touching the ball a mammoth 18 times in the opposition penalty area. If the 23-year-old can continue as he has done, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the French head into the latter stages of the tournament once again, perhaps even facing off with England in a mouth-watering quarter-final.
More difficult tests will follow, firstly against Denmark, who have proven to be a thorn in France's side in the last few months. The Danes beat Deschamps’ side home and away in the recent UEFA Nations League campaign, and they will be hoping for a third successive victory in a few days' time. Following that, Tunisia await in the final group game, a fixture that promises fireworks thanks to the pair's shared history during earlier days of football.
A great start, but enough to conquer the champion's curse?
Depending on your knowledge of football, you may or may not know that four of the last five reigning champions to head to the World Cup have had their title defense end at the first hurdle.
In Russia four years ago, it was Germany who had fate intervene against them. They lost against Mexico and South Korea to finish bottom of their group for the first time in World Cup history. That was four years on from their finest hour, when they defeated Argentina in Rio De Janeiro to lift the trophy for the first time since 1990.
Spain entered that tournament in Brazil as the reigning champions. However, they exited at the group stages courtesy of back-to-back defeats in their opening two games, firstly against the Netherlands and then against Chile. Another victim of the champion's curse.
In 2010, Italy headed to South Africa looking to defend their crown. Draws against New Zealand and Paraguay meant that they needed to beat Slovakia in their final group game to advance. They couldn’t manage it, succumbing to a 3-2 defeat and also exiting in the opening round.
The curse originally began back in 2002 with France. They traveled to Japan and South Korea four years after defeating Brazil in Paris via a Zinedine Zidane brace to lift the World Cup for the first time. But in the far east, disaster struck immediately. They lost to tournament debutantes Senegal in their opening game. Then, they only managed a 0-0 draw against Uruguay in their second game.
France needed to win their final group game against Denmark to progress, but a 2-0 defeat meant that one of the greatest shocks in the history of the tournament had happened. The champions headed home and the dreaded curse was born.
20 years on from that painful trip to the land of the rising sun, the French will be hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself. They've had an excellent start to the tournament. But with Denmark in their group once again, perhaps an early exit is written in the stars?
