France’s World Cup Journey: Setting Sights on the Finals

After falling short in the 2022 World Cup Final, French football fans might have expected the team to suffer from an emotional downturn. However, four years on, that is far from the truth. France, aiming to defend their 2018 title, lost to Argentina in 2022. The match is remembered as one of the greatest ever played, with Kylian Mbappé achieving a hat trick in the final. Despite his efforts, France lost during penalties.

Fast forward to the present, and France’s recent 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 highlights their determination and potential to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, a feat last achieved by Brazil between 1994 and 2002. The match against Paraguay underscored the depth of talent within the French squad. Although Paraguay initially displayed a robust defense, the game changed with the introduction of substitute Désiré Doué in the 61st minute. His aggressive play resulted in a penalty which Mbappé converted, bringing his total to seven goals for this tournament and 19 in World Cup history, trailing only Lionel Messi’s 20 goals.

France demonstrated dominance from the group stage onward. They began the 2026 World Cup with a 3-1 win against Senegal and continued with a 3-0 victory over Iraq. Even when Norway rested its top players, France maintained their momentum, winning 4-1. The team advanced with the best goal differential of plus-eight, and further cemented this with a 3-0 victory over Sweden at the start of the knockout rounds. With the win over Paraguay, France’s differential now stands at plus-12, showcasing their dominance over opponents.

Paraguay’s strategy in their defensive formation was straightforward—create congestion in defense and disrupt France’s rhythm with physical play. It was effective initially, holding France to a scoreless first half. Yet, France’s skill and drive proved too strong, breaking through Paraguay’s defense in the second half. The game ended with heated exchanges between players, but Paraguay’s attempts to unnerve France were unsuccessful.

At 27, Mbappé celebrated with the crowd, echoing his strong performance from the 2022 tournament. He shares the lead for the Golden Boot with Messi, both scoring seven goals so far, with up to three matches left. Mbappé receives significant assistance from teammates Ousmane Dembélé, who has four goals, and Michael Olise, who has contributed five assists, creating a formidable attacking force.

France’s next match against Morocco will be a repeat of one of the 2022 semifinals, where France triumphed 2-0. Although Morocco might seek revenge, they will face the challenge of overcoming the French team’s determination to excel.