Defence is a worry, but France have firepower for 2018 World Cup
Paris — France built their 1998 World Cup-winning squad around a rock-solid defence but 20 years on they could do just the opposite, with their dazzling array of creative, attacking talent ready to make all the difference at the 2018 edition. Such is Les Bleus’ firepower up front that manager Didier Deschamps even has the luxury of not missing Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who has not been selected since being involved in a sex-tape blackmail scandal in 2015. France can not only call on Paris St Germain prodigy Kylian Mbappe but also Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Olympique de Marseille’s Dimitri Payet, the duo who shone during Euro 2016 on home soil before the hosts lost in the final. Payet flew under the radar for most of this season but recent impressive performances earned him a place in the 23-man squad. In sharp contrast, the back four have been a recurrent problem for Deschamps. Neither Samuel Umtiti nor Raphael Varane have been convincing this season as France,...
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