Didier Deschamps could lead France to his third FIFA World Cup this weekend when Les Bleus take on Argentina in Lusail. The 54-year-old was captain back in 1998 for the first triumph on home soil and he was the tactical mastermind behind their 2018 success in Russia.
Another win on Sunday would firmly put Deschamps in the elite management category at international level and move the French to third on the list of all-time winners. The man from Bayonne will have been involved in all of them, but this one would arguably be the least expected.
Pre-Qatar, Deschamps lost star men like Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, and Presnel Kimpembe to injury as well as emerging talent Christopher Nkunku. Few expected France to do better than a potential quarterfinal appearance, maybe the semifinals if everything broke right, yet they have defied the doubters and look strong.
The French look good on the field and united off it which was not the case before the COVID-delayed UEFA Euro 2020 last year and did not look likely as recently as a few months ago. That they are in this position owes much to Deschamps and his ability to thrive in an international tournament format.
"I think Deschamps is benefiting from the French ecosystem in its entirety," former France international Mikael Silvestre told CBS Sports exclusively. "The quality of players is very impressive -- they play for top clubs at the highest level and win titles. It has been about getting everybody together and embracing that culture. Gone are the players who did not fit Deschamps' philosophy as it is group first before individuals."
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Deschamps has relied upon a core of his 2018 champions including captain Hugo Lloris, Raphael Varane, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, and Kylian Mbappe. However, new faces have been added including Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Theo Hernandez.
By losing the likes of Pogba, Kante, Benzema, Kimpembe, and Nkunku, Deschamps was forced to embrace the deep array of talented youth available to him. His reward has been this latest impressive World Cup showing which also might have breathed new life into his managerial tenure.
Coming into Qatar, Deschamps was expected to move on after this tournament and potentially hand over the squad to Zinedine Zidane who had seemingly kept himself available for that eventuality. This latest deep run is now expected to keep Deschamps in the post until 2024 which gives him another Euro shot.
Had change not been forced upon the French boss, this World Cup might well have ended in failure and certainly not a second consecutive final with a shot at back-to-back titles. Despite their incredible depth of talent, Les Bleus function better under Deschamps with their backs against the wall.
"He has the formula to be difficult to play against and also beat teams while there are also some good weapons going forward," added Silvestre. "Our strikers can score against anybody. The balance is good but most impressive has been finding that balance in such a short space of time. One week before the tournament and then game after game, we have seen that there is a real group, true spirit, and a will to fight to go all the way."
In many ways, losing the four key figures of Pogba, Kante, Benzema, and Kimpembe -- all players who would have started if available -- gave Deschamps' group something that had been badly missing since 2018: hunger. The players finally had a reason to put all individual concerns aside and pull together as a team. It was the key to success in Russia and it could also be the key in Qatar too.
World Cup 2022 final start time, odds, lines: France vs. Argentina picks, FIFA predictions by proven model
It will be a showdown between superstars when Kylian Mbappe and defending champion France face Lionel Messi'sArgentina on Sunday in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. Each team has won the World Cup twice, with Les Bleus also taking the 1998 title and La Albiceleste winning it in 1978 and 1986. Messi is hoping to add the sport's ultimate prize to his impressive resume in what is expected to be his final attempt, while Mbappe is seeking back-to-back titles. The superstars are tied in the World Cup's Golden Boot race with five goals apiece. Argentina defeated Croatia 3-0 in their Tuesday semifinal, and France got past Morocco 2-0 on Wednesday.
Kickoff Sunday is set for 10 a.m. ET at Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Argentina are slight +160 favorites on the 90-minute money line (risk $100 to win $160) in the latest Argentina vs. France odds at Caesars Sportsbook, with France listed at +185. A draw is priced at +200 and the over/under for total match goals is 2.5. Argentina are -125 to lift the trophy while France are +100. Before locking in any France vs. Argentina picks, you need to see the World Cup predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven soccer model.
The SportsLine soccer simulation model evaluates a team's offensive and defensive capabilities based on the game situation. Then, it assigns a grade using an expected payout-to-probability ratio. The model was accurate on 56% of all picks during the Champions League group stage and returned more than $1,000 to $100 bettors on its A+ picks. It also enters the World Cup semifinals on a 33-15-4 run on spread picks, returning more than $1,400 for $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has dialed in on France vs. Argentina and just revealed its 2022 World Cup picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see all of the model's soccer picks. Here are the World Cup 2022 odds and trends for Argentina vs. France:
France vs. Argentina spread: Argentina -0.5 (+165)
France vs. Argentina over/under: 2.5 goals (Over +135, Under -175)
France vs. Argentina 90-minute money line: Argentina +160, France +185, Draw +205
France vs. Argentina to lift the trophy: Argentina -125, France +100
Argentina: They have a 12-5 goal advantage in this World Cup.
France: They have outscored their opponents 13-4 in Qatar.
France vs. Argentina picks: See picks at SportsLine
Featured Game| Argentina vs. France
Why you should back Argentina
Messi has been the center of attention for La Albiceleste for many years, but he doesn't have to carry this team alone. Messi has five goals, but he also shares the tournament lead with three assists. That would earn him the Golden Boot if he remains tied with Mbappe in goals. Julian Alvarez has been nearly as critical to the team's success, putting up four goals and drawing the penalty that Messi converted against Croatia. Messi is tied with Mbappe for the tournament lead with 10 shots on target, and Alvarez has seven. Argentina have 76 shots (32 on target) in Qatar.
They have put 42% of their shots on net, while France have hit the target on just 36% of their shots. On the back end, France have allowed 20 of 60 attempts to find the target (33%), while Argentina have allowed just eight on net out or 34 tries (23%). France have made mistakes in the back and have just one clean sheet in Qatar. That came against a Morocco team that creates few chances, and England put eight of 16 shots on net in their quarterfinal match. Argentina have posted 10 clean sheets in 15 matches in 2022, scoring at least twice in 12.
Why you should back France
Les Bleus are in the final for the fourth time in their past seven appearances, and they have scored twice in five of the six matches in Qatar. The only exception is a 1-0 loss to Tunisia when they rested some stars to start the match. Mbappe has seized the reins with fellow star Karim Benzema out with an injury, and Olivier Giroud has made the most of his chance. Giroud has four goals to make him France's all-time top scorer with 53, and Mbappe's five goals in Qatar give him 33 in just 63 matches. Antoine Griezmann has 42 goals (third all-time) and 26 assists.
Griezmann and Mbappe have combined for five assists, and Theo Hernandez added a goal Wednesday to add to two assists. France have 33 shots on target while allowing 20. Morocco held the ball for 62% of Wednesday's match after France took the early lead, but they put just three of 13 attempts on net. The defense should come in with more confidence after holding Morocco scoreless, and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris' experience in back is critical. He is the nation's all-time leader in appearances with 144 and has eight clean sheets in 19 World Cup matches.
How to make France vs. Argentina picks
The model is picking Over 2.5 goals and it also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model's FIFA World Cup 2022 picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Argentina vs. France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final? And which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side to back, all from the model that's up over $1,400 on its World Cup spread picks, and find out.
Spanish league attacks FIFA's plan for bigger Club World Cup
MADRID — The Spanish league isn't happy with FIFA’s plan for a bigger Club World Cup, and says it would do more harm than good.
“FIFA only takes into account a small group of clubs and players, when in professional football there are many professional leagues, thousands of clubs and players who do not participate in these international competitions,” the Spanish league said Saturday.
“FIFA seems to forget that and only thinks of a few, without knowing the impact on all in professional football.”
A day after FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented his vision of a 32-team Club World Cup for 2025, the Spanish league said this and other FIFA decisions “made unilaterally and without notice regarding the calendar with new international tournaments irreversibly damage the entire football ecosystem.”
The 2021 edition, won by Chelsea, involved seven teams.
Infantino, speaking at the World Cup in Qatar, said the 32-team Club World Cup “will go ahead, making it really like a World Cup.”
Infantino also floated the idea of a four-team friendly tournament for national sides in March in even-numbered years before major championships, along with other tweaks to the calendar. This comes after FIFA had already solidified plans to increase the World Cup field from 32 to 48 teams in 2026.
The Spanish league said it would consider taking legal action “to prevent the Club World Cup with the announced format.”
The World Leagues Forum had already voiced similar complaints about not being consulted before Infantino announced the plans. An expanded Club World Cup was also questioned by the global players’ union FIFPRO as being detrimental to players’ health.
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