France World Cup Preview: "They Still Have Quality All Over the Pitch"

Yeah, I think it's a fair price overall. If you look at what France has done over the last 2 World Cups, it's hard to argue against them being near the top of the market. One title, two finals, and they've still got one of the deepest squads in the tournament.

Would I rush to bet them at +460? Maybe not. But I completely understand why bookmakers have them as second favorites.

The thing with France is that they don't always look like the best team for 90 minutes. Sometimes they can be frustrating to watch. But then Mbappé does something special, and suddenly they've won again. That's why they're always dangerous in tournament football. They know how to get through games, even when they're not at their best.

Definitely. Most players would be satisfied with what he's already achieved at the World Cup, but Mbappé doesn't strike me as that type of competitor.

I think he's chasing something bigger now. Not just trophies, but his place in football history.

When you're already a World Cup winner, and you've scored a hat-trick in a final, the next challenge is becoming one of the players people still talk about 30 or 40 years from now. I think that's what drives him. And from a betting perspective, people always want players who stay motivated. With Mbappé, I don't think motivation will ever be an issue.

I usually find the outright winner market a bit boring because by now the bookmakers have those prices pretty sharp.

What I prefer are player and team markets. For example, I think there could be value in France's total goals scored, France reaching a certain stage of the tournament, or some of the player scoring markets outside Mbappé.

During a World Cup, everybody talks about the superstar, which can sometimes create opportunities elsewhere. I also think bettors often ignore defensive markets. Everyone wants to bet on goals and top scorers, but clean sheets can be really interesting in tournament football.

The best opportunities usually come after the first round of matches, though. That's when people start overreacting, and prices move a lot.

I would say the mood is confident, but not overconfident. French fans know this team can win the tournament. Nobody is looking at the squad and thinking France are outsiders.

At the same time, there isn't quite the same feeling of invincibility that existed in previous tournaments. We know there are a few strong nations capable of beating France. A lot of the discussion is around whether this group can finish the job one more time under Deschamps.

It feels a bit like the end of a cycle. And obviously, every conversation eventually comes back to Mbappé. That's pretty much unavoidable in France right now.

I think a lot of international bettors expect France to be spectacular every game because of the names they have. That's not really how France operates.

They've often been at their best when they're pragmatic. They don't need 70% possession. They don't need to win every game 4-0. They just need to keep progressing.

The other mistake is thinking they're a one-man team because Mbappé gets all the attention. He's the star, of course, but France still has quality all over the pitch. That's probably their biggest strength. If one player has a quiet tournament, they usually have two or three others capable of stepping up.

That's why, even when France isn't the most entertaining team in the competition, they're usually one of the last teams left standing.