France coach Didier Deschamps and captain Hugo Lloris have played down suggestions that Les Bleus are favourites to win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The 1998 champions kick off their campaign against Australia tomorrow in Kazan. Ranked seventh in the world, France reached the final of Euro 2016 and have a bevvy of world-class cattle to call on. Karim Benzema didn’t even make their World Cup squad.
France have five players in the Premier League, five in La Liga, two in the Bundesliga and one starring in Serie A. But they also have a history of starting World Cups poorly and imploding, such as in Japan and South Korea in 2002 and in South Africa in 2010.
Deschamps is not looking past their first game against Australia.
"You need a lot (to win a World Cup) but you have phases and the first phase is to win the first group match," he said.
"The recent history of France has only twice got to last 16. It is a very high level. We are going to start with a lot of determination and humility. It is our first match tomorrow and the first match is always very important.
"I have picked what is best for the French team to start the match. Not so much for the opponent but to be dangerous for the opponent, create opportunities and score."
The head coach has selected a very young squad for the 2018 World Cup, France's youngest in decades. But he is not worried about a lack of experience amongst his charges.
“They are young players but they do play in large clubs and used to important competitions," the 49-year-old said.
"Nine players have played in Euros or World Cups. They have followed the whole preparations. What is interesting to me is the group. Those players used to high level. It is a not a risk because those young people in the 23.
"Fourteen haven’t played in a big competition but if I have selected them then I think it is good for the team. It is not risk-taking. They are here because they have the quality to be here.”
Tottenham keeper Lloris will skipper Les Bleus in Russia. The 31-year-old debuted for France 10 years ago and has 98 international caps.
He has also played down his country’s chances of winning the 2018 World Cup.
“The French team is ambitious, we don’t feel we’re favourites,” he said.
“There are great teams in the competition. Every match is a challenge for us. We are going to be really concentrated on the group matches.”
