Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has tipped France to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament.
The 23rd edition of the showpiece event will begin on Thursday as co-host Mexico will face South Africa in a repeat of the 2010 opening match.
Meanwhile, France have been tagged as one of the favourites to win the tournament alongside Spain and will be hoping to avoid a shock performance at the tournament.
The two-time champions have reached consecutive finals, winning the 2018 edition and losing to Argentina on penalties in 2022 and will be hoping to win their third title this time around.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Wenger believed his home country will go all the way to the final and win the tournament.
“I put them above the others. France have so much talent and Deschamps has experience”, Wenger said.
“We have so many attacking players that the danger is being a little unbalanced offensively.
“But today, the modern player, even an attacking one, knows how to do his share of the defensive work.
“When you’re 0-0 against France with 20 minutes to go, you lose the match. Power makes the difference”, the Frenchman added.
However, Wenger backed Kylian Mbappe to play a key role for the French team despite what he believes has been a harsh criticism of the Real Madrid forward in recent months.
“I’m ready to bet on it, he’s going to have a fantastic World Cup”, Wenger continued.
“He’s been unfairly criticised often this season. He landed in an average Real Madrid team. Real has three or four world-class players. Before, they had ten.
“Football is such that you always need a scapegoat. He’s become that (at Real Madrid).
“Kylian has everything it takes to have a great World Cup. He’s physically fresh, he’s not overworked”, the former Arsenal boss concluded.
France will open their World Cup campaign against African heavyweights Senegal on Tuesday. They will then face Iraq on June 22 and conclude their group action against Norway on June 26.
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