France's challenge is enormous. Nothing more and nothing less than trying to retain the World Cup crown that he won four years ago. Only Pelé's Brazil achieved it in 1958 and 1962. That's nothing. In the last editions the teams that defended the title have been shipwrecked as much as possible. Germany did not even reach the round of 16 in 2018, Spain did the same in 2014, like Italy in 2010.
To try to improve these benefits, the French coach, Didier Deschamps, made public last night in the prime-time newscast of TF1 a list of summoned stars full of stars but also with some important absences.
Among the figures Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé or Karim Benzema, despite the fact that he is limping and has not played the last Madrid games. For the current Ballon d'Or it will be the second World Cup of his career, since he was only in Brazil 2014. The French striker is a luxury because to the three starting theorists we must add a gladiator like Giroud (Milan), a bishop like Coman ( Bayern) and the Barcelona player Dembélé.
The ownership and the confidence that Xavi has given him at the Camp Nou has served for the winger to be in Qatar as he was already in Russia. Between both editions, the carousel of injuries that he had suffered kept him out of the national team at times. Dembélé will be accompanied by another Barcelona player like Jules Koundé.
But in France there are more Real Madrid players than Barcelona players. To Benzema we must add the young midfielders Tchouméni and Camavinga, who turns 20 today. On the other hand, winger Mendy will not participate in the World Cup due to a technical decision by Deschamps.
Among the absences are the notable and well-known midfielders N'Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba due to injury, two important casualties within a spinal cord that is diminished and is the least experienced line in France. The coach has decided to wait for the ex-Madridista Varane, who came out crying from a match with Manchester United thinking that he was going to miss the tournament due to an untimely injury.
The center-back is on the final list, unlike the Blaugrana Lenglet. He went to Tottenham on loan in search of more minutes to try to be called up for Qatar but he will have to see it on television. The French team will face Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.
France was not the only team that played a great role in Russia 2018 that released its squad list yesterday. So did the current world runner-up, Croatia. The Balkan team will be led for the fourth consecutive World Cup by Real Madrid player Luka Modric, the true alma mater of his team.
The brain will be accompanied by other classics in the midfield such as interista Marcelo Brozovic or Chelsea footballer Mateo Kovacic. Croatia also has gray hair in defense, with the experience of Domagoj Vida and Dejan Lovren. Instead, the attacking line seems to be the weakest link in the team, with the presence of Osasuna footballer Ante Budimir. Croatia will face Morocco, Canada and Belgium in Group F.
