FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Can France defend their crown?

The French will be looking to defend their title at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and become the first team to do so since Brazil lifted the trophy in 1958 & 1962.

Stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba, Hugo Lloris and Aurelien Tchouameni are ready to appear on the world stage again to try and take Les Bleus to back-to-back victories. However, four of the last five World Cup winners failed at their next tournament, unable to advance beyond the group stages. This includes France's 2002 team, who failed to progress after winning the trophy for the first time in 1998. So, can they break the 'holder's curse' this time around and have a successful tournament?

France's group/route to Lusail

France will meet old friends in Group D. They saw off Australia and Denmark in 2018, a group they won before winning the entire tournament in Russia. This year they are also joined by Tunisia but will hope that history will repeat itself and take them to glory.

A penalty shoot-out win over Peru in the inter-confederation playoffs, held in Qatar in June, qualified Australia for the tournament. Back-up goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the hero for the Socceroos. He saved the final Peru spot-kick to send his nation back to Qatar this winter. Redmayne has now made his case for starting between the sticks in the tournament, but ex-Brighton goalkeeper Matt Ryan will still be hoping to hang onto his no.1 spot.

Denmark had an incredible UEFA Euro 2020 after making the semi-finals in the delayed tournament. That campaign had a frightening start with Christian Eriksen having a cardiac arrest on the pitch. The shocked Denmark side went on to have one of their most remarkable tournaments. Their challenge ended when they were knocked out in the semi-finals by