A soccer axiom holds that, once the English invented the game, they left it to the French to provide organization, and the Italians promotion. France took things from there, founding FIFA (1904) and originating the World Cup (1930), along with the Champions Cup (1955) and European Championships (1960).
Winning those competitions became another story, though. Fittingly, France’s Lucien Laurent kicked off the World Cup in 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay, with the tournament’s first goal, before the team fell in group play.
In 1934, France lost to Austria in the event’s first extra-time game.
In 1938, playing host to the World Cup, France was eliminated by champion Italy in the quarterfinals.
In 1958, Les Bleus advanced to the semifinals, a 5-2 loss to Brazil, with Just Fontaine converting a tournament-record 13 goals.
They returned to the semifinals in 1982 in Spain, and 1986 in Mexico, led by midfielder Michel Platini, their stylish play earned them the sobriquet “the Brazilians of Europe.” Unlike Brazil, though, the French kept falling short, and their frustration led to a reorganization of the game, the establishment of the Centre National de Football in Clairefontaine, and repeal of laws preventing clubs from becoming fully professional.
France failed to qualify for the 1990 and ’94 World Cups (with Platini coaching) but found its footing in time for the 1998 World Cup, which Les Bleus won as hosts. The “Bleu, Blanc, Beur” championship team united the country in celebrations, and its multi-ethnic makeup countered the anti-immigration agenda of the far right Front National.
In the ’98 final at Stade de France, Zinedine Zidane, then starring for Juventus in Italy, scored twice against a Brazil team in crisis after striker Ronaldo sustained pre-match convulsions. The France midfield included current coach Didier Deschamps, who would become the third person (following Franz Beckenbauer and Mario Zagallo) to win the World Cup as a player and coach in 2018.
They kept up the pace, capturing the 2000 Euro final, and returning to the 2006 final in Berlin. This time, Les Bleus lost to Italy on penalties after Zidane was red-carded for head-butting defender Marco Materazzi.
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France nearly missed the 2010 World Cup, edging past Ireland on aggregate with a 1-1 tie in a playoff qualifier, as a Thierry Henry handling violation went undetected.
In 2018, with Deschamps in charge, they won for the second time, taking a 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final in Moscow. Kylian Mbappé, 19, became the second teenager (after Pelé in 1958) to score in the title match. They nearly repeated in 2022, as Randal Kolo Muani’s last-minute shot was saved, and Mbappé converted a hat trick, before falling to Argentina on penalties after a 3-3 tie.
Playing style
Deschamps’s 4-2-3-1 alignment emphasizes wing play through Mbappé, Michael Olise, and others. Makes sense, Les Bleus being overloaded with wingers. Versatility presents a problem for opponents, trying to figure out who is going to be where. Deschamps aligns players differently than with their club teams, raising questions whether the team succeeds because of, or in spite of, his system.
Mbappé prefers the left wing but could be at striker. On the wings, there are Ballon D’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue. Olise and Ryan Cherki can be central playmakers, or right wingers. Should Deschamps go with a lone striker, it’s Marcus Thuram, backed up by Jean-Philippe Mateta. Adrien Rabiot is first choice to guide the midfield, Manu Koné, in reserve.”
At holding midfield, Real Madrid teammates Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, plus N’Golo Kanté and Warren Zaire-Emery. The back line appears vulnerable, as Brazil showed in a 2-1 loss to France in a March friendly at Gillette Stadium. William Saliba (Arsenal) and Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) start centrally, flanked by Malo Gusto (Chelsea) and Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) or Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal). Milan’s Mike Maignan, born 120 miles from the Brazil border in Cayenne, French Guyana, has been the starting goalkeeper since 2023.
Local ties
• Laura Georges played at Boston College (2004-07) before becoming secretary general of the Fédération Française de Football.
• Boston will be Les Bleus’ World Cup base: Four Seasons Hotel, Bentley University practice site.
