Written by Angie Khumalo
Didier Deschamps has his work cut out for him, as the count down to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar inches closer.
Les Bleus go into their opening game against Australia on 22 November as one of the favourites. But with a hive of controversies plaguing French football, not to mention a long casualty list as well as the less than impressive showing in the Nations League (one win in six fixtures) this all paints a rather grim picture for the defending champion in the months leading up to their title defence.
Mainstays such as Karim Benzema, Hugo Lloris and N’Golo Kanté are expected to return to action over the next few weeks, but the densely-packed fixture list is likely to cause a few more additions to the ever-growing injury list. And, given how unprepared France seems to be without their regular starters, an experimental lineup could go either way.
A repeat of the 2002 World Cup, where the defending champions went out in the group stage, may be unlikely, but things could certainly go pear-shaped for Deschamps charges, just as they did at the Euros last year when they were booted out by Switzerland in the last 16. Le Bleus have already made a mess of one title defence this year in the Nations League, they can ill-afford to do that again at this year’s global spectacle.
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