France are at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar hungry to defend the title they lifted four years ago in Russia as they head into a final with South American heavyweights Argentina.
Their star-studded side was confident of another good run at the tournament but had to be wary of a recent trend that’s seen past winners fail to escape their group. And their luck with injuries was not been kind to them in the lead up to the tournament.
After winning the World Cup in 2018, France also won the UEFA Nations League in 2021 but were knocked out in the Round of 16 at the delayed Euros.
Didier Deschamps’ side went into the 2022 World Cup having won just one of their last six matches and are relying on their players to step up back to form when it matters most in Qatar.
However, the French progressed as group winners ahead of Australia, before defeating Poland, England and Morocco to reach the final.
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France World Cup squad
Manager Deschamps had until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA from which he selected his final roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14, with up to 26 players allowed on the final list.
Notably, Paul Pogba was absent from the list, as he was ruled out of action with a new thigh injury picked up while rehabbing his prior knee injury. Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta confirmed in a statement to the media on October 31 that he would not be fit for the FIFA tournament.
N’Golo Kante was also ruled out of the tournament due to injury, while defender Raphael Varane was included despite an injury in the run-up to the tournament. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan was left out amidst injury struggles, as was Boubacar Kamara, while Real Madrid full-back Ferland Mendy was excluded as well.
Finally, there were late reports that Eduardo Camavinga could be left out, but that proved not to be the case.
Deschamps initially announced a 25-man list but indicated he could make a late addition to the group. On November 14, Marcus Thuram was added as a late call-up. Another revision to the squad was announced later the same day, with Presnel Kimpembe, who had not recovered sufficiently from injury, replaced by the uncapped Axel Disasi of Monaco.
Christopher Nkunku was originally named in the side but was withdrawn due to an injury picked up in training on November 15. Deschamps confirmed Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani would replace him in Qatar.
On the eve of the World Cup getting underway, Karim Benzema was also ruled out after picking up an injury in training with Deschamps deciding against calling up a replacement.
Stats correct as of start of Qatar 2022.
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 23 | Alphonse Areola | West Ham (ENG) | 29 | 5 |
| GK | 1 | Hugo Lloris | Tottenham (ENG) | 35 | 139 |
| GK | 16 | Steve Mandanda | Rennes (FRA) | 37 | 34 |
| DEF | 3 | Axel Disasi | Monaco (FRA) | 24 | 0 |
| DEF | 21 | Lucas Hernandez* | Bayern Munich (FRA) | 26 | 32 |
| DEF | 22 | Theo Hernandez | AC Milan (ITA) | 25 | 7 |
| DEF | 24 | Ibrahima Konate | Liverpool (ENG) | 23 | 2 |
| DEF | 5 | Jules Kounde | Barcelona (SPA) | 23 | 12 |
| DEF | 2 | Benjamin Pavard | Bayern Munich (GER) | 26 | 46 |
| DEF | 17 | William Saliba | Arsenal (ENG) | 21 | 7 |
| DEF | 18 | Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich (GER) | 23 | 7 |
| DEF | 4 | Raphael Varane | Manchester United (ENG) | 29 | 87 |
| DEF | 13 | Youssouf Fofana | Monaco (FRA) | 23 | 2 |
| MID | 25 | Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid (SPA) | 19 | 4 |
| MID | 6 | Matteo Guendouzi | Marseille (FRA) | 23 | 6 |
| MID | 14 | Adrien Rabiot | Juventus (ITA) | 27 | 29 |
| MID | 8 | Aurelien Tchouameni | Real Madrid (SPA) | 22 | 14 |
| MID | 15 | Jordan Veretout | Marseille (FRA) | 29 | 5 |
| FWD | 11 | Ousmane Dembele | Barcelona (FRA) | 25 | 28 |
| FWD | 20 | Kingsley Coman | Bayern Munich (GER) | 26 | 40 |
| FWD | 9 | Olivier Giroud | AC Milan (ITA) | 36 | 114 |
| FWD | 7 | Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 31 | 110 |
| FWD | 10 | Kylian Mbappe | PSG (FRA) | 23 | 59 |
| FWD | 26 | Marcus Thuram | Bor. M’Gladbach (GER) | 25 | 4 |
| FWD | 12 | Randal Kolo Muani | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 23 | 2 |
*Ruled out of out the tournament through injury
WORLD CUP 2022 SELECTED SQUADS:
Australia | Argentina | Belgium | Brazil | Cameroon
Canada | Costa Rica | Croatia | Denmark | England
France | Germany | Ghana | Iran | Japan | Mexico
Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Senegal
Serbia | Spain | Switzerland | Uruguay | USA | Wales
France national team stars, strengths & weaknesses
The 2018 World Cup winners remain one of the strongest teams in the world, despite recent struggles.
France notably have a good mix of young and old talent to draw upon.
Stars
Kylian Mbappe is the undoubted star of this France team and scored four goals at the last World Cup as a teenager.
The PSG forward is already halfway to becoming the side’s all-time top scorer, a record he will no doubt break in the years to come. His goals will prove crucial if France are to succeed in Qatar.
Getty Images
Strengths
There is no shortage of goalscorers in this France team. Alongside Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann gives this side plenty of quality in the final third.
Age is also on Les Bleus’ side in Qatar, with a perfect blend of youth and experience set to take the pitch.
36 – Steve Mandanda (37 years and 226 days) and Olivier Giroud (36 years and 40 days) are the first two players over 36 years old called up for a World Cup with the French team. Experience. pic.twitter.com/5gnAUtTMyS
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 9, 2022
Weaknesses
While capable of scoring plenty of goals, this France team is also vulnerable to letting their fair share in.
They kept just one clean sheet across their final five games ahead of the 2022 World Cup, with a number of their defenders not exactly shining at club level. The injury to Man United’s Raphael Varane had set off alarm bells in what is already a problematic sector of the field.
They also have a very thin midfield, thanks to the injuries to Pogba and Kante.
Can France replace players on World Cup roster?
Once the final 26-man roster was official, participating teams at the World Cup could only make changes before the first game of the tournament, and only in the case of extraordinary circumstances.
According to the official tournament rules, “a player listed on the final list may only be replaced in the event of serious injury or illness up until 24 hours before the start of his team’s first match.”