France’s current team has the quality to succeed, but whether it can turn that talent into a winning World Cup story remains to be seen. The speaker, reflecting on France’s 2018 triumph, says that balance was a key reason for that success: the squad had creativity and flair, but also the solidity needed to handle pressure. He suggests this new generation of French players has similar ingredients, with strength in defence, midfield and attack, yet warns that talent alone is not enough.
The challenge now is for the team to make those qualities count on the pitch and build its own history. He says France already did its part in 2018, and now the responsibility lies with the current group to do theirs. With youth comes excitement, but also heavy expectation. That pressure can be difficult to manage, especially at a World Cup, where small moments often decide outcomes and surprises are always possible.
He points to France’s difficult experience at the 2002 World Cup as a reminder that even the best teams can fail if things do not come together. In that tournament, France arrived as defending champions and European champions, but endured a disastrous campaign and failed to reach the knockout stage. The lesson, he says, is that reputation counts for little unless the team starts well and establishes momentum immediately.
For France, the opening match against Senegal is especially important because it sets the tone for the group stage. He notes that the result matters more than performance in the first game, recalling that France needed a bit of luck to beat Australia in 2018. The key is to win and gain confidence. After Senegal, France faces Iraq, a match they would be expected to win, but the team will be aiming to have six points before its final group game against Norway.
Norway is described as a dangerous underdog, which means France should not allow the group to remain open for too long. The ideal scenario is to secure qualification early, avoid unnecessary pressure, and finish top of the group. He stresses that simply scraping through would not be enough for a nation like France. The ambition must be much higher: to dominate the group, make a statement, and reach the level required for the knockout rounds.
The message is clear: France has the tools, the talent and the depth to go far, but success will depend on how quickly they can turn potential into performance. Their journey begins now, and the expectation is that they will not just qualify, but do so in convincing fashion. Olivier Giroud made the remarks in an interview with BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
