France Secures 2026 World Cup Spot Amid Player Injuries
In a significant match on Thursday night, France secured their qualification for the 2026 World Cup, defeating Ukraine 4-0. Shortly after the victory, head coach Didier Deschamps and his team traveled to Azerbaijan for their upcoming match on Sunday. However, the squad for this trip was reduced by three players: Manu Koné was suspended after the match and returned to AS Roma, while both Eduardo Camavinga and Kylian Mbappé departed due to minor injuries. Camavinga returned to Real Madrid, and Mbappé requires a scan for an ankle issue.
The France captain was crucial to the team’s success against Ukraine, contributing two goals and an assist. This performance marked his sixth consecutive international match scoring at least once, placing him in rare company in French football history. The record is held by Jean-Pierre Papin, who scored in seven straight games from September 1990 to October 1991. Mbappé now has the opportunity to match and potentially break this record during the March international break, with matches scheduled against Brazil and either Mexico, the United States, or Croatia.
Mbappé’s recent goals brought his tally for the national team to 55, just two less than Olivier Giroud, who holds the all-time French record. If combined with his 35 assists, Mbappé has been involved in 90 goals across 94 caps, an outstanding achievement.
The excitement surrounding Thursday’s win was palpable as it reaffirmed France’s status as a perennial contender for the World Cup trophy, having reached the final in four of their last seven attempts. This tournament will be especially notable as it marks Deschamps’ fourth and final World Cup as manager, with expectations high for his successor, likely to be Zinedine Zidane, following next summer’s tournament.
Deschamps’ World Cup journey has been remarkable; he led France to the quarterfinals in Brazil in 2014, brought home the trophy in 2018, and endured a heartbreaking loss to Argentina in the 2022 final. In that memorable final, Mbappé claimed a hat trick, further solidifying his status in the sport.
The upcoming World Cup in 2026 will be a critical moment for Deschamps, who aims to polish his legacy with another remarkable run. Currently, he possesses a squad perhaps more talented than any he has previously managed, full of players competing at the highest levels around the world. Mbappé himself labelled this team as possessing tremendous potential, despite noting that they are not yet as strong as the teams from 2018 or 2022.
Interestingly, half of the players summoned for November’s camp hold experience from that intense 2022 World Cup final, bringing depth and familiarity to the squad. With numerous attacking options like Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise, among others, the team boasts a robust mix of youthful energy and seasoned skill.
Furthermore, Kylian Mbappé continues to shine with astonishing form, scoring his 400th career goal on Thursday at just 26 years and 328 days, making him the youngest player to reach this milestone in history. He surpassed previous greats like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in reaching this mark faster, albeit with fewer matches played.
Despite these achievements, Mbappé remains driven, expressing to reporters the desire to reach greater heights. He openly stated that while reaching 400 goals is commendable, he feels he must push further, citing the staggering goal tallies of his peers as motivation. As such, the journey towards another World Cup title and more personal records continues for the relentless forward.
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