Didier Deschamps' side promise to provide plenty of entertainment in Russia this summer, writes James Eastham, but concerns about defensive fragilities are well-founded...
Les Bleus boast strength in depth in attack
France named their 23-man World Cup squad last Thursday and the squad selection confirmed what close followers of the team already knew: les Bleus could be one of the most entertaining and exciting teams in the tournament.
Manager Didier Deschamps named only five midfielders but seven attackers, suggesting he'll use a thrusting 4-4-2 with two genuine wingers.
Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Nabil Fekir, Florian Thauvin, Ousmane Dembele and Thomas Lemar are the seven players that made the cut, with the likes of Kingsley Coman and Alexandre Lacazette missing out.
Between them the seven players that were selected provide the tantalising promise of pace, energy, skill, flair and massive scoring potential.
Griezmann the pick of a brilliant bunch
Griezmann is a bona fide, world-class star while Mbappe and Dembele are among the most exciting young footballers in the world. At Marseille, Thauvin has just enjoyed the best career of his season, while Fekir and Lemar are set for huge-money moves this summer on the back of some tremendous football over the past two years. The most experienced man of the bunch, Giroud has scored 30 times for his country.
These seven players should make France brilliant to watch - but what's also clear glancing through the names of the other players on the plane to Russia is that France may have defensive problems.
France have named eight defenders but there are concerns that their starting back four and the back-up players will struggle to provide the defensive security that some of the other sides at the tournament may be able to enjoy.
Raphael Varane is an automatic starter but has not developed at Real Madrid as impressively as many expected him to when he was a teenager starting out at Lens. He and Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti have obvious qualities but cannot yet be regarded as a world-class central defensive partnership.
Defensive inexperience a key concern
Full-backs Djibril Sidibe and Benjamin Mendy will provide pace, power and energy on the flanks but there's a case to be made that both are better going forward than defensively. There are also legitimate concerns over Mendy's sharpness after he's spent nearly the entire season sidelined by injury.
Deputy defenders Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez and Presnel Kimpembe are inexperienced, while Adil Rami has leadership qualities but can be found wanting at international level. Questions have even been asked about Hugo Lloris, with the Tottenham goalkeeper occasionally criticised over mistakes that some say have slipped into his game this season.
The question is: how do you make France's predicted strengths and weakness pay during the group stages?
There are several markets to consider. 'Yes' in the Both Teams to Score? Market is one. With France expected to win comfortably in all three group games against Australia, Peru and Denmark, this section should be available at odds-against for all three games when there's liquidity in the market.
Over 2.5 Goals and Over 3.5 Goals worth considering
You could back 'Yes' in all three games and make a profit with just one winner as long as your selections are bigger than 3.00. The early evidence is that 3.10 should be available on France's opening game vs Australia on June 16. If the prices maintain at that level throughout the group stages then you'll only need one match to break the 3.5 barrier and you will turn a profit betting at level stakes across the three games.
Over 2.5 Goals is another option. This ought to be available at around [2.1] so you'd need two of France's three group games to have three goals or more in order to make a profit via level-stakes betting across all three matches.
Pick between the Over 2.5 Goals and Over 3.5 Goals system bets, and consider the Both Teams to Score? Option as well. France ought to be exciting to watch during the opening weeks in Russia - and there are ways to make that entertainment pay.
RECOMMENDED BETS
‘Yes’ in Both Teams to Score? Market in France’s three Group C games at 3.10 or bigger
Over 3.5 Goals in France's three Group C games at 3.10 or bigger
