France came through the 2022 World Cup group stages mostly unscathed to finish top of Group D before making light work of Poland in the Round of 16.
Les Bleus’ build up to Qatar 2022 was dominated by a host of injury withdrawals, with 2018 heroes N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba both sidelined, alongside 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema on the eve of the tournament.
However, Didier Deschamps’ charges have shown the resilience needed from defending champions so far, with Kylian Mbappe staking his claim for the Golden Boot.
Major tests lie ahead for France if they want to retain their title from Russia 2018 — and the 1-0 defeat to Tunisia on matchday three will be a concern, albeit they rested a host of regular first-team stars — but they still look to have the confidence of champions based on their 3-1 win over Poland last time out.
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Quarterfinals: France vs England
As the tournament begins to heat up, France’s star names will be looking to rise to the occasion, and World Cup games do not come much bigger than a quarterfinal against England.
England eased past Senegal 3-0 in the Round of 16 but Gareth Southgate’s team will face a much sterner test against France.
England have impressed in patches so far in Qatar, with 12 goals scored in four games, but France will be their toughest test since losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy.
Despite being age-old rivals, tournament meetings between the two nations have been few and far between, with France generally coming out on top.
Zinedine Zidane’s memorable double in the Euro 2004 group stages was one of the most iconic moments of the tournament, and alongside draws at Euro 1992 and Euro 2012, England have not beaten France in a competitive game since the 1982 World Cup.
MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)
Semifinals: France vs Portugal or Morocco
If France pass the test against England, their reward will likely be a European derby in the last four against Portugal.
Portugal eased themselves into the knockout stages, with a group game to spare, and then dispatched of Switzerland in style by beating them 6-1 courtesy of a Goncalo Ramos hat-trick.
Portugal secured their first major trophy by beating France in the final of Euro 2016, and Deschamps has won just one of his four competitive meetings with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.
First, though, the Iberians must get past Morocco, who sprung yet another surprise in this tournament of shocks to beat Spain on penalties in the last 16.
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Final: France vs Brazil or Argentina
The final, if they get there, would see France come up against the ‘other side’ of the knockout stage and a possible clash with South American heavyweights Brazil or Argentina.
Lionel Messi’s date with destiny will be the narrative, if Argentina reach the final, and the Paris Saint-Germain superstar will have their 4-3 last-16 defeat to France from 2018 fresh in his mind.
Despite ending Brazil’s World Cup hopes in 2006, the only game that springs to mind ahead of a possible France vs Brazil final is their infamous final showdown in 1998.
Brazilian Ronaldo’s mysterious last-minute exclusion from the starting 11 disrupted Brazil in Paris and Zidane inspired France to glory at the Stade de France.
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