Coupe du Monde 2026 : Olivier Giroud évoque France-Maroc

Dans une vidéo diffusée par le LOSC, ce jeudi, sur ses réseaux sociaux, plusieurs joueurs des Dogues ont donné leurs sentiments et leurs pronostics sur le match du jour entre la France et le Maroc en quart de finale de Coupe du monde.

Parmi les interrogés, Olivier Giroud, champion du monde 2018 avec les Bleus et présent en 2022 lors de la dernière opposition entre les deux nations, a livré son ressenti et voit une victoire tricolore. « La France va gagner. je vois 2-0. Ca va être un match difficile, encore plus difficile je pense qu’en 2022 en demi-finale. », a commenté l’ancien meilleur buteur des Bleus. cricket-info.homes

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DALLAS, USA, Jul 9 – “France are one of the most clear favourites for a World Cup tournament I have ever seen.”

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright isn’t the only one either who believes Didier Deschamps’ men are the team to beat, with pundits, fans and bookmakers largely tipping France for the title.

And who could blame them?

Five games played, five games won. Fourteen goals scored, two conceded. And just once have they not hit three or more in any of their World Cup matches.

With Kylian Mbappe scoring for fun, and the likes of Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola forming a fearsome trio just behind, they will strike fear into every defence in the world.

Not to mention having the quality of Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki in reserve. Frightening.

So, with Thursday’s quarter-final against Morocco (21:00 BST) looming, BBC Sport journalists had their say on whether anyone can beat the 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up.

‘France do give teams a chance’

Ian Dennis, BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter

Spain are the team to beat and they’re my favourites more than France. I’ve changed my mind having seen both teams.

Spain have a greater control, defensively limit sides to few chances and are still yet to concede.

I saw all group games involving France but they don’t possess the same level of control as Spain and do give teams a chance.

Senegal should have been ahead at half-time and even an understrength Norway side created awkward moments in the first half in Boston.

I think Morocco can give them problems but lying in wait should be Spain in the last four – a repeat of the Euro 2024 semi-final that Spain won 2-1.

‘Teams will believe France can be beaten’

France have looked the most impressive team in the World Cup so far, with their array of attacking talent led by Mbappe, Olise and Dembele.

They are, however, beatable and will run into serial winners and European champions Spain in the semi-final if they both come through their quarter-finals.

Good as France are, this would represent a huge test for Deschamps’ team.

Spain are on a remarkable 35-game unbeaten streak in all competitions and simply know how to get results, as they proved with their injury-time winner against Portugal in the last 16.

And, if France do overcome Spain, they could potentially meet current World Cup holders Argentina or England in the final.

France are favourites to win the World Cup, but these sides would definitely believe they could be beaten – and let’s not forget this tournament has already proved there are no foregone conclusions.

‘Spain have every chance’

Spain have every chance of beating France, even if they have flown slightly under the radar at this World Cup.

A lot of that is because their biggest star, Lamine Yamal, has yet to reach the heights of some of the tournament’s other standout attackers as he continues his return from injury.

While other teams have relied on moments of individual brilliance, Spain have quietly impressed through their disciplined, well-structured system. In their draw against Cape Verde and four wins since they have not conceded a goal, thanks largely to the impressive centre-back partnership of teenager Pau Cubarsi and veteran Aymeric Laporte.

Spain’s use of width creates space for Lamine Yamal and enables them to generate chances, while Rodri and Pedri dominate midfield, controlling possession and dictating the tempo of the game. Spain have also beaten France in each of their past two matches. If Spain take their chances in front of goal, they can beat France.

‘The most exciting teams can fall short’

France have been by a distance the most exciting team to watch here and have played the most attractive football.

But over the years a number of those teams have gone on to fall short at World Cups. Brazil of 1982 is probably the best example, but you could throw in the Danish Dynamite team of 1986, Jurgen Klinsmann’s Germany at 2006, or the Brazilian side that hosted in 2014.

And were they to come up against Spain in the semi-final I could certainly envisage a scenario in which the reigning European champions come out on top.

‘The fear is France have more gears to find’

It’s going to require something extra special to stop this Les Bleus juggernaut from reaching a third straight World Cup final.

France have overcome a two-hour storm delay in Philadelphia, the loss of Deschamps for one match (he returned home for the funeral of his mother) and Paraguay’s ‘dark arts’ to reach the last eight.

They have been an absolute joy to watch, particularly against Sweden in the last 32 when they registered 25 attempts. The fear for their rivals is they still have another couple of gears we have not yet seen at this World Cup.

It’s not just Mbappe, Olise and Dembele – who have 20 goal involvements between them. Les Bleus have yet to fall behind.

They have conceded just twice in five games – when they were leading Senegal 3-0 and when they were 2-0 up against Norway, with Arsenal’s William Saliba and Olise’s Bayern Munich team-mate Dayot Upamecano marshalling the defence.

Who can stop France? They will meet Spain or Belgium in the semi-final if they get past Morocco. Spain, who have yet to concede, will be a huge test.

Les Bleus were frustrated by Paraguay before finding a way to win – and I suspect Deschamps’ side will have too much firepower for Spain, while their strength in depth from the bench is eye-watering.

‘Three Lions can stop Les Bleus’

France have looked liked the tournament favourites from early on in this World Cup.

They have an excellent team but it is not flawless.

It will end up being a France and England World Cup final and the Three Lions will be the side that manages to stop Les Bleus.

England’s midfield of Declan Rice, Elliot Andersen and Jude Bellingham have the ability to physically impose themselves on France’s midfield.

Thomas Tuchel’s team have also shown that they have the resilience to deal with tough situations after their impressive 3-2 win over Mexico in Mexico City.

To beat France, England will have to produce a performance filled with grit and if they do meet and do it, then England will have achieved the greatest success in the game.

Could France’s greatest strength be a flaw?

It’s clutching at straws to try to look for France weaknesses because at times you watch open-mouthed in amazement when the front four is in full flow.

But could their greatest strength also turn into a flaw when they meet another of the favourites?

Switching Olise to the number 10 position has made France much more dangerous. Against an elite side though, could they be overrun in midfield, off the ball, when they have such an attack minded footballer playing ahead of a midfield two?

Will Olise track back enough or be willing to do the consistent pressing needed in the centre of the park when France are facing a team that won’t let them dominate possession?

Perhaps Morocco will target that area of the pitch and of course, in a potential semi-final, a Spain team that loves possession would certainly put that to the test.

‘Don’t rule out Morocco’

France are clearly a tough prospect for any side right now with Mbappe in form in attack and Olise arguably the best player at the World Cup so far.

But we are at the business end of the tournament now and anyone can beat anyone at this stage.

Make no mistake it will be tough for Morocco against them but let’s remember that the Atlas Lions were World Cup semi-finalists just four years and arguably have got better since then.

Morocco have shown they can defend well and frustrate their opponents, and if they can do that to France then why can’t they win? I wouldn’t rule them out of going all the way, either.

Arsenal a officialisé l’arrivée d’Illan Meslier en provenance de Leeds United. À 26 ans, le gardien français s’engage avec les Gunners afin de renforcer le poste de gardien en vue de la nouvelle saison.

215 matchs et 70 clean sheets avec Leeds

Arrivé à Leeds United en 2019, d’abord sous la forme d’un prêt avant un transfert définitif, Illan Meslier a passé sept saisons sous les couleurs du club anglais. Durant cette période, il a disputé 215 rencontres toutes compétitions confondues et réalisé 70 clean sheets.

Après avoir contribué à la montée de Leeds en Premier League dès sa première saison, le portier français s’est imposé comme un élément incontournable de l’effectif. Il totalise notamment 107 apparitions dans l’élite anglaise, apportant toute son expérience au sein de l’effectif londonien.

De Lorient à l’Emirates Stadium

Originaire de Lorient, Illan Meslier a été formé au sein de son club de cœur avant de signer son premier contrat professionnel en février 2018. Il effectue ses débuts en équipe première quelques mois plus tard, à seulement 18 ans, lors d’une victoire (1-0) face à Valenciennes en Coupe de la Ligue.

Auteur d’une saison convaincante en Ligue 2 avec 28 apparitions lors de l’exercice 2018-2019, il rejoint ensuite Leeds United en prêt à l’été 2019. Il dispute son premier match avec le club anglais à l’Emirates Stadium, en FA Cup, en janvier 2020.

« Arsenal est le plus grand club d’Angleterre »

Après la signature de son contrat, le gardien français n’a pas caché sa joie.

« Je suis extrêmement heureux. C’est un grand jour pour moi, car je rejoins les champions. Pour moi, Arsenal est le plus grand club d’Angleterre. J’ai hâte de montrer tout l’amour que j’ai pour ce blason et de remporter des trophées avec cette équipe, car c’est un club qui se doit de soulever des trophées encore et encore. »

Illan Meslier portera le numéro 30 et rejoindra ses nouveaux coéquipiers à l’occasion de la reprise de l’entraînement au Sobha Realty Training Centre. Son transfert reste soumis aux dernières formalités réglementaires.

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Le quart de finale de la Coupe du monde 2026 entre la France et le Maroc ne se joue pas seulement sur la pelouse. À Paris, les autorités ont déployé un important dispositif de sécurité afin d’encadrer les nombreux supporters attendus dans la capitale ce jeudi soir. Face à l’affluence prévue autour des Champs-Élysées et […]

L’article France – Maroc : métro fermé, lignes perturbées… Paris se prépare à une soirée sous haute sécurité est apparu en premier sur Shoot Africa.

Malgré la présence de son coéquipier Ayyoub Bouaddi dans les rangs du Maroc, l’attaquant du LOSC, Ethan Mbappé sera derrière la France où évolue son frère et capitaine des Bleus, Kylian.

Avant le quart de finale de Coupe du monde près de Boston entre la France et le Maroc, Ethan Mbappé a été questionné via les réseaux sociaux du LOSC sur son choix du pays qui rejoindra le dernier carré. L’attaquant de 19 ans a répondu et a un message pour son coéquipier Ayyoub Bouaddi, qui a participé à 4 matchs dans ce Mondial avec les Lions de l’Atlas, mais a logiquement exprimé son soutien aux Bleus avec la présence de son frère, Kylian.

« Petite pensée pour mon gars Ayyoub (Bouaddi). Je lui souhaite un bon match. J’espère qu’il fera un bon match, Mais malheureusement, j’ai un membre de ma famille dans l’équipe adverse, donc je supporte la France, mais je suis de tout cœur avec lui. », a glissé l’attaquant des Dogues.

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