X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

2022 FIFA World Cup: France Team Preview, Odds, and Predictions

The World Cup is finally here. A few months later than normal but here nonetheless. The team at RotoBaller has you covered for all your World Cup needs. We'll bring you DFS articles, game previews, and betting picks throughout the competition.

To get things going, we're previewing different international clubs every day until the big kick-off on Sunday, November 20. Today we continue the previews with France.

We'll be covering a brief snapshot of the nation's World Cup history, what to expect from the nation, a few highlighted players from the nation, and their predicted starting 11.

Featured Promo: Get any Props Premium Pass for 30% off using code NEW. Win more with our two new Props Optimizer tools -- one for PrizePicks Props, and one for Sportsbook Betting Props. Find optimal prop bets and get our recommended picks daily! Go Premium, Win More!

 

Today's World Cup Sportsbook Odds - France

  • Caesars Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on Caesars
    • Bet France to win the World Cup at +950
    • Bet France to win the Group at -286
  • BetMGM Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on BetMGM!
    • Bet France to win the World Cup at +800
    • Bet France to win the Group at -333
  • DraftKings Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on DraftKings!
    • Bet France to win the World Cup at +900
    • Bet France to win the Group at -280
  • PointsBet Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on PointsBet!
    • Bet France to win the World Cup at +800
    • Bet France to win the Group at -275
  • FanDuel Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on FanDuel!
    • Bet France to win the World Cup at +800
    • Bet France to win the Group at -240

If you are new to any of these sportsbooks, be sure to take advantage of the promo offers:

Featured Promo: Get any Betting Premium Pass for 30% off using code NEW. Win more with exclusive betting picks from proven winners across 9 sports! Find optimal bets with our Betting Picks Tool and Bet Weighting Tool and follow along in our VIP chat rooms! Go Premium, Win More!

 

Preview 

It's hard to doubt Les Bleus as they begin their World Cup defense in Qatar. After conquering the world in 2018, this iteration of the squad could be even better four years later. However, critical losses in the midfield (Paul Pogba, N'golo Kante) will make France a little more vulnerable than most fans think. Remember, the last time they won the World Cup (1998), they spectacularly crashed and burned in the opening game to Senegal and failed to qualify for the knockout rounds in 2002.

Still, with the group they've been drawn against (Denmark, Tunisia, Australia), there aren't many doubts that this squad will be in the knockout rounds again. Keep an eye out for Denmark to challenge them for the top spot in Group D. The Danes defeated the French in both Nations League meetings over the last six months. If France comes out on top of the group stage, their path to the final will go through Mexico/Poland, England, and then one of Belgium, Germany, Uruguay, or Portugal in the semi-finals.

That's not an easy slate of games for any team, and with Karim Benzema nursing a muscle injury, it'll be interesting to see if this French side can weather that gauntlet. It won't be as bad as their flameout at the 2002 World Cup or the 2020 Euros, but I don't expect Les Bleus to go back-to-back. A loss in the final to Argentina or Brazil is my call.

Prediction: Runners-up

 

Who is Starting for (France's) Squad in the 2022 World Cup

Predicted Starting 11 (4-3-1-2): Lloris, Hernandez, Varane, Kounde, Pavard, Rabiot, Camavinga, Tchouameni, Greizmann, Mbappe, Benzema

Alternate Options By Position:

GK: Areola, Mandanda

DF: Disasi, Hernandez, Konate, Saliba, Upamecano

MF: Fofana, Guendouzi, Veretout

FW: Coman, Dembele, Giroud, Kolo Muani, Thuram

 

Who Are France's Best Players To Watch?

Defense: Hugo Lloris - GK (Tottenham Hotspurs)

Saturday, Nov. 19 marks the 14th anniversary of Lloris’ first cap for his country. He’s made 139 appearances for France and trails Lilian Thurman (142) by three for the all-time record. If France reaches the knockout rounds, he’ll surpass the legendary defender. In 14 World Cup starts, the Spurs goalkeeper has seven clean sheets and was the man between the sticks when France captured the trophy in 2018.

He’s not at the peak of his powers anymore, but he’s been a constant for French manager Didier Deschamps since he took the helm in 2012. There’s nothing to worry about with Lloris, and that sort of dependability will keep this French defense in check throughout the tournament. A couple of clean sheets in the group stages and some timely saves in the knockout rounds should be expected.

Midfield: Aurelien Tchouameni - CM/CDM (Real Madrid)

If things had gone according to plan, Aurelien Tchouameni, Karin Benzema, and Kylian Mbappe would have played together in Madrid for the last six months. But, alas, Mbappe decided to stay in Paris, and Tchouameni became the most significant addition to the Real Madrid squad over the summer. For a not-so-cheap sum of €80 million, the up-and-coming defensive stalwart made it possible for the 14-time Champions League winners to move on from Casemiro.

Now, the 22-year-old will anchor a French midfield without Pogba and Kante. Fortunately, he's gained some experience while starting five of the six Nations League games for his country. The World Cup is a different ballgame, but tune-up games against Tunisia and Australia should allow Tchouameni to settle in nicely on the world's biggest stage. His contributions don't show up on the scoresheet, but if France makes a deep run, he will have played a vital role in Les Bleu's success.

Forward: Kylian Mbappe - ST (PSG)

With the headlines swirling around Karim Benzema's injury status, Kylian Mbappe is almost flying under the radar heading into Qatar. His PSG teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar are also expecting deep runs in the tournament. The FIFA 23 cover man doesn't seem to be under the spotlight as much as fans would think. However, after claiming Best Young Player at the 2018 World Cup, Mbappe still has a lot of expectations on his shoulder if Les Bleus are going to become back-to-back Champions.

Mbappe's played 19 games between Ligue 1 and the Champions League this year, and the 23-year-old has 19 goals and five assists to his name. That's some fantastic form to bring into a World Cup, along with his sparkling national team record. In 59 games for France, he's bagged 28 goals and 21 assists. In 2018 in Russia, he notched four goals and an assist on his way to becoming a World Cup champion. He's only gotten better since then, and he will easily surpass both totals in Qatar.

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Pete Alonso11 mins ago

Goes Deep In Second-Straight Contest
Aaron Judge23 mins ago

Launches Long Ball No. 6 On Friday
Seth Lugo33 mins ago

Logs Quality Start In Victory Over Baltimore
Jesús Luzardo42 mins ago

Jesus Luzardo Strikes Out Eight In Seven Scoreless Frames
Jacob Wilson49 mins ago

Launches Second Long Ball, Extends Hitting Streak To Eight Games
Spencer Schwellenbach57 mins ago

Strikes Out 10 Across Eight Shutout Innings
Luis Rengifo8 hours ago

Injures His Hamstring On Friday
Ketel Marte9 hours ago

Likely To Land On The Injured List
Eury Pérez9 hours ago

Eury Perez Throws Bullpen On Friday
Edward Cabrera9 hours ago

To Make Second Rehab Start On Sunday
Matt Brash9 hours ago

On Track To Return In Late April
Ketel Marte9 hours ago

Dealing With Strained Hamstring
Jordan Romano10 hours ago

Shaky While Recording Save Against Dodgers
Julio Rodríguez10 hours ago

Julio Rodriguez Posts Three-Hit Performance
Corbin Carroll10 hours ago

Blasts Two Homers
Tylor Megill10 hours ago

Looks Sharp In Home Opener
Wilyer Abreu10 hours ago

Collects Three Hits
Shota Imanaga10 hours ago

Impressive In Win
Ryan Burr11 hours ago

Could Throw Bullpen Next Week
Brad Lord11 hours ago

Could Make A Start On Sunday
Patrick Corbin12 hours ago

Jack Leiter Placed On Injured List, Patrick Corbin Promoted
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP
10
10
11
11
12
19
13
22
14
24
15
25
16
29
17
39
18
40
19
41

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 

Top 10 Fantasy Football Busts Of All Time - Le'Veon Bell, Peyton Hillis, LeSean McCoy, and more

Fantasy football managers have the fear of picking busts fresh in their minds every season because every year, players who are thought to be headed for productive seasons, whether due to injury, not reaching overly high expectations, or other reasons, bust hard. Those who drafted San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey are well aware […]


Mark Andrews - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Every AFC Team's Most Overvalued Dynasty Fantasy Football Player

The 16 teams that comprise the AFC all have players that I don't think are worth, on their own, what you could get for them in trades as compensation. Not all of them are bad players, though. In fact, some of them are quite good. "Most overvalued" is a relative thing. And since there's not […]


Jayden Daniels - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Free Agency Check - Fantasy Football Quarterback ADP Risers and Fallers

This NFL offseason has been incredible. With big-name free agents shuffling around the league, 2025 looks like an exciting season, and we haven’t even had the draft yet! Over the last few offseasons, we have seen a massive increase in quarterbacks switching teams. This season, the list includes Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, Justin […]


Kenneth Walker III - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Running Back Next Gen Stats Review - Fantasy Football Outlooks For 2025

After the 2023 season, we covered Next Gen Stats for the running back position. We highlighted rush yards over expected per attempt and the percentage of carries with eight defenders in the box. Now, it's time to examine the Next Gen Stats for running backs again, but we'll mix in other advanced metrics. Unsurprisingly, rush […]


Cooper Kupp - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football Buy or Sell: DK Metcalf, Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp, and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams all landed in new teams ahead of the 2025 season. Formerly of the Seahawks, Rams, and New York Jets, all three of these wideouts' fantasy football values have undergone marked shifts after landing at their […]


UFL DFS PICKS, FANTASY FOOTBALL, DRAFTKINGS, FANDUEL

UFL DFS Lineup Picks: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Fantasy Advice for Week 2

Welcome to Week 2 of the inaugural UFL season, RotoBallers! We already have one week in the books, with the XFL teams off to a hot start at 3-1 while the USFL conference went 1-3. We have Houston squaring off against Arlington in the early game and San Antonio versus St. Louis in the later […]


Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Florio's Football Show: NFL Draft QB Scouting Report!

Michael F. Florio gives his scouting report for the 2025 NFL Draft QB class. Do Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders live up the hype? Should you be excited about Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe? Plus, he goes over the deeper options in this class! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (SiriusXM channel […]


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Best Bets: Week 2 Picks

Well, the opening week is always full of curveballs, and 2025 was no exception. We actually saw the Birmingham Stallions lose a game, looking bad in the process. Overall, I went 3-3-1 on spreads and over/unders last week, so a bit inconvenient that neither parlay worked out. It is a short season, so the pressure […]


Isaiah Bond - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks - NFL Draft

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Sleepers: 5 Undervalued Draft Targets

We all know at this point who the top names are heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Ashton Jeanty will be the dynasty rookie RB1. Tetairoa McMillan will be the rookie WR1. But fantasy leagues aren't won just by getting a top-2 or three rookie pick and grabbing the best guys. Rookie drafts are also […]


Ja'Marr Chase fantasy football rankings NFL DFS lineup picks

Two-Round Start-Up Dynasty Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single Quarterback

The players you select in the early rounds of dynasty fantasy football start-up drafts have a massive impact on the chances of your team winning for many seasons after the first one. So it's crucial to nail these picks, and there are a few ways you can do that. Obviously, no one's being selected in […]


Tetairoa McMillan - College Football DFS Lineup Picks, NCAA CFB, NFL Draft Prospect

2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single-QB

Thankfully, fans and fantasy football players only have to wait a few more weeks for the 2025 NFL Draft. That means dynasty fantasy rookie mock drafts are right around the corner. While dynasty fantasy outlooks for the NFL Draft prospects will change between today and the end of April, it’s time for another dynasty rookie […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Outlooks For Wide Receivers On New Teams: Davante Adams, DK Metcalf, Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp, Christian Kirk, and more

The 2025 NFL offseason has been full of breaking news alerts. Last year, all the action was at the running back position, with Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs changing teams. However, all the action has been at the wide receiver position this offseason. Some big-name wide receivers remained with their current teams. Tee […]


Bijan Robinson - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

Fantasy Football Running Back Preview: Targets & Sleepers For 2025 Drafts

While the NFL is in the middle of its offseason, the fantasy football world never takes a break. Much in the fantasy world will change between now and the start of the regular season. Yet, let’s take an early look at the running back position for 2025 fantasy football drafts. Below are three early-round studs, […]