Emmanuel Petit believes that France can still be a major threat at the World Cup despite their poor preparation, insisting the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba can be key stars.
France head to Qatar as world champions but have endured a relatively miserable 2022 after performing poorly in the Nations League, where they won just one of six group games as title holders, and also suffering key injuries to the likes of Pogba and N’Golo Kante.
In addition, concerns off the pitch have been headlined by Kylian Mbappe’s wishes to leave Paris Saint-Germain despite signing a bumper new contract in the summer, while speculation surrounds manager Didier Deschamps who is now in his tenth year in the role.
France have endured an underwhelming build up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this winter
Les Bleus head into the tournament as defending champions after their success in 2018
Emmanuel Petit believes his country will thrive on their negative predicament in Qatar
Petit won the World Cup on home soil in 1998 but was also part of a France side who stumbled to a catastrophic group stage exit four years later at the Korea/Japan tournament – and he fears there are similarities between that team and the current crop of stars.
The former Arsenal star admits it is a stern reminder of what could go wrong for Les Bleus this winter. However, he also insists that without any turmoil France cannot perform at their best, claiming ‘when we are nice, we do not win’ – a theory backed up by their Nations League success last year after losing on penalties to Switzerland at Euro 2020 just a few months prior.
‘Now we get troubles back. On the pitch because of injuries to important players and off the pitch because of old stories around some players,’ Petit told Sportsmail.
Petit scored in the final of the 1998 World Cup, when France triumphed at the tournament
But he was also in the side that crashed out of the group stage four years later at Korea/Japan
‘It reminds me of what happened in 2002 when we crashed out altogether after winning the Euros and the World Cup. We were out after the group stage because of injuries even though we didn’t have issues off the pitch.
‘But I have confidence in this team. I have confidence that these players have personality and character and mind that goes with heart. To me that’s the most important thing. They know its not perfect preparation for the World Cup.
‘I’m not going to try and understand it because there is no meaning of it but there are troubles. Didier knows it, the French president knows it and the players know it. Altogether we need to react and show something different.
‘We have so many talented players and options. France are not good when we arrive in the competition and everything is ok. We need to get troubles to be better on the pitch. We need to be pushed against the wall, all the time. This is how we react, French people. We are nice but when we are nice we do not win.’
All the attention has been on key striker Kylian Mbappe in the build up to the 2022 World Cup
Amid his turmoil and wishes to leave PSG, Petit believes Mbappe can still step up for France
France’s issues off the pitch right now are centred around Kylian Mbappe and his possible disruption on the team heading into the tournament, where they share a group along with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.
Petit has been highly critical of the Paris Saint-Germain striker, who in recent days has caused a storm at the Parc des Princes with his desire to leave the club after feeling ‘betrayed’ by the board, while team-mates are also unhappy with his unique position having influence behind the scenes.
Petit recently said to French reporters that Mbappe has been ‘disrespectful’ and ‘annoys everyone’, but the former midfielder also told Sportsmail that he is still vital for the national team and is more likely to place Les Bleus as a greater priority.
‘I think he was the best player in Russia [2018]’, he insisted. ‘I know there is speculation surrounding him since signing that contract with PSG. He was annoyed about a few things but this is his club.
‘I know he has arguments in the national team but nothing is bigger than the national team. I think he knows that. He is an intelligent player. He knows what to say in his communication and what to do on the pitch.
‘Expectations are high from him because he has big ambitions. I’m pretty confident that when players are in big trouble they have the reaction on the pitch and I still believe in this.’
Injuries mean Paul Pogba has played just 45 minutes of pre-season action for Juventus
The midfielder was a key player when Les Bleus triumphed in Russia four years ago
Another key player who France have questions over this winter is Paul Pogba, with fitness problems meaning the Juventus star is yet to make the first appearance of his second spell with the Italian side after joining from Manchester United in the summer.
A knee injury in pre-season has left him in a position where he may not play up until the tournament starts. Yet Petit insists he would still gamble on his selection, even if his fitness is a concern, as his experience will be vital.
‘It’s a gamble to take him, because he is fit…when? It’s a short call I know its important for the the team and for Didier especially in midfield,’ he added.
‘We have new players coming in like [Aurelien] Tchouameni and [Eduardo] Camavinga. We have so many options and they don’t have experience and knowledge.
‘Yes, I would [take Pogba]. The list of the group, you know that 30 per cent won’t get a chance to play. If Pogba doesn’t get a chance to play he will be very important inside the dressing room because he was the leader in the last World Cup. Even if he cannot play every single game his presence will be very important.’
Petit, who was speaking as an ambassador of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola ahead of the tournament, also insists he has full faith in manager Deschamps to recover from a poor Euro 2020 campaign.
Didier Deschamps has now been in charge of the France national team for a decade
Petit stands with the trophy as part of FIFA’s World Cup Trophy Tour with Coca Cola
Deschamps has been in charge of Les Bleus for a decade but Petit does not fear the team has grown stale under his former international team-mate in similar fashion to Joachim Low, whose run as Germany boss between 2006 and 2021 ended with two poor tournament exits in the 2018 World Cup group stages and the last 16 at Euro 2020.
‘I completely believe in Didier Deschamps,’ he stated. ‘He has played in big competitions as a player and a manger. This is probably the hardest one to prepare. It depends what France will do. After 10 years maybe he wants to go back to club football?
‘A lot of people think Zinedine Zidane is available and willing to take the national team. I believe in Didier though. He has done so many things for the national team.
‘If he has to go that would depend on how France will play and react on the pitch. I’m sure he is intelligent enough to take this decision by himself. I think though they have to reach the semi-finals.’
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