English legend Lineker recently gave L'Équipe an interview and shared his views on the French team – in his opinion, France can go all the way.

Do you consider France one of the two or three favorites for this tournament after the group stage?

„Without a doubt! Before the tournament, I might have thought Spain had a slight edge over France, but now that Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino are both injured and I don't feel Spain has started with great momentum, France is the strongest team. This team is really hard to beat. Of course, football is always full of unknowns, and things can change at any moment."

„But look at France's attacking lineup – compared to any other nation's front line, they are world-class. Yes, they need to be prepared for the challenge. Perhaps some teams have a more stable midfield or defense than France, but in terms of overall squad depth, especially in attack, I believe France is not just a favorite, but the top favorite."

What impresses you most about the French team? Their attack?

„How can you not be impressed? Mbappé is in top form, sharp and outstanding. Dembélé, who hadn't scored in the previous four major tournaments, scored 4 goals in two matches (1 goal against Iraq, 3 goals against Norway). If France wins the title, these two players will certainly be strong contenders for the Ballon d'Or. Michael Olise is also an exceptionally talented player."

Are you surprised by the level Michael Olise is showing now?

„No surprise. Even when he was at Crystal Palace, I noticed he was different. However, I didn't expect him to reach such a high level. I have a good personal relationship with Crystal Palace's owner, and when he sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich in 2024, he told me Michael Olise would become a world star. It turned out he was right."

What role do you think Didier Deschamps plays in France's current success?

„After all, he's a coach who has won the FIFA World Cup and reached a second final with his team (he says laughing). He is an outstanding leader. I can't think of anyone who understands how to win this tournament better than Deschamps. The death of his mother was a tragedy, truly heartbreaking, and I still can't understand why FIFA didn't allow players to wear black armbands in mourning. But that's another matter... Deschamps is the pillar of the team. His experience is beyond question, and it's clear the players have enormous respect for him."

What do you think are this France team's weaknesses?

„I think their defense is quite solid. The fullback positions could perhaps be improved, especially on the left. In midfield, I admire Kouadio Koné greatly, and I even think he would blend better with Aurélien Tchouaméni than Rabiot. Some countries have stronger midfields, like Spain, but France has no real weaknesses. You could say they're not as strong as other teams in certain positions, but that's been true for every team throughout FIFA World Cup history. Regardless, France is the team others have to beat."

Could Sweden, their Round of 16 opponent, pose a threat to France?

„No, I don't think so. Sweden has Isak, Gyökeres, and Elanga – they're not weak, but they're not in the same league as France's attacking prowess. Of course, if France field four pure strikers, they could expose defensive vulnerabilities on the counter, like in the 4-1 win over Norway's reserve team on Friday, but they will definitely score more goals than their opponents."

Do you like this unbalanced offensive and defensive style of play?

„France's matches are very entertaining."

Übersetzt von KI.

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