The 10 Frenchmen who repeated in the World Cup final

France could become the first team capable of winning two consecutive World Cups on Sunday against Argentina since Brazil did it 60 years ago in 1957 and 1962. Italy also doubled their titles in 1934 and 1938 .

There are ten French players who already know what it’s like to win a World Cup as they were part of Didier Deschamps’ squad at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Although not all of them played in the final against Croatia in Luzhniki in Moscow ( 4-2), these are the ones who will repeat the title in Qatar 2022. A list where Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté and Presnel Kimpembe will enter if they were not injured before the tournament.

Hugo Lloris

The captain scored two goals

The player with the most caps for the French team (144) was also a member of Tottenham then, is the captain he is now and played 90 minutes of the final. He could not prevent goals from Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic. On Sunday he will overtake Manuel Neuer as the goalkeeper with the most appearances in World Cup history (20).

two

Antoine Griezmann

The goal that earned him the Silver Boot

Also a player for Atlético de Madrid and his ‘7 on his back, he was another fixture for the French team and in the final he scored a penalty for 2-1 in the 38th minute. He completed the entire match . It was his fourth goal and he won the Silver Boot behind Harry Kane (6) as he provided two assists to one from Romelu Lukaku. He was also selected for the Bronze Ball behind Luka Modric (Gold) and Eden Hazard (Silver.). In Qatar 2022 he shone less, he did not score but he was the key to his new position as a link.

3

kylian mbappe

He judged the final with 19 years

At 19 years old, he has already made the big jump to Paris SG from Monaco and with his fourth goal at Russia 2018 he sealed France’s victory in the final, which they played in full. He received the Best Young Player award. In the current edition he has five goals, the same as Leo Mess, in which to play the Golden Boot. On Sunday he can celebrate his 24th anniversary with his second World Cup. Pelé did it at the age of 21.

4

Raphael Varane

Champions and World Cup in the same year

The then Real Madrid central defender completed 90 minutes of the final and confirmed himself as the great defensive bulwark of the French team, forming a tandem with Catalan player Samuel Umtiti. FIFA included him in the perfect eleven and joined the elite group of players who won the Champions League and the World Cup in the same year. In Qatar 2022, he was a substitute in the first game against Australia but from the second against Denmark he settled in the starting eleven.

5

Olivier Giroud

He didn’t score but it was the key

If in Qatar 2022 he scored four goals, in Russia 2018 he reached none, but he was also key as a reference in the attack, releasing balls towards his teammates. He was 31 years old at the time, played for Chelsea and was substituted in the last nine minutes from the end.

6

Benjamin Pavard

He scored the best goal of the championship

At just 22 years old and still at Stuttgart, the right-back was one of the revelations of Russia 2018. Set in for Didier Deschamps, he played the entire final and his superb goal against Argentina in the round of 16 was selected as the best in the tournament. In Qatar 2022, on the other hand, he started on debut against Australia but lost the position that was in second when Jules Koundé, who joined the concentration with discomfort, fully recovered.

7

Lucas Hernandez

From untouchable in Russia to damage in Qatar

Still at Atlético de Madrid and at the age of 22, he owned the left-back throughout the 2018 World Cup and played in the entire final. At Qatar 2022 he was called up to start but a serious injury (torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee) in the 13th minute of the opening match against Australia sidelined him for the rest of the tournament, giving his brother Théo a chance to play.

8

Ousmane Dembele

From one last no minute to another being fixed

Already at Barça at the age of 21, he started two of the three games in the first leg at Russia 2018 but was left out of the team and Deschamps only gave him two minutes in the quarterfinals against Uruguay. At Qatar 2022, the coach took advantage of the winger’s transformation into a Barça player at the hands of Xavi Hernández and only rested him against Tunisia with qualification to the round of 16 assured.
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9

Steve Mandanda

Only one game in Russia and Qatar

In 2018 he played for Marseille and now for Rennes but what hasn’t changed is his status as a replacement for Hugo Lloris. In both Russia and Qatar, at the age of 37, the veteran goalkeeper played only the third game of the group stage with qualification for the round of 16 in his pocket.

10

Alphonse-Areola

Without a minute in two World Cups

From one World Cup to another he went from Paris Saint-Germain to West Ham, on the other hand, everything indicated that he would complete the last two stages without playing a single minute. However, you can go into history.