The year 2018 ends for the Team de France. After a last friendly success against Uruguay, the Blues see one of the most beautiful pages in their history to turn. Back in images on the crazy year of the French.
On July 15, 2018, France became World Champion, beating Croatia in the final (4-2) . The courage of a lot of work, from the players, the coach and the staff, but also the consecration for all a tricolor people. As the crowning of a successful year.
Yet, everything had not started so well for the Blues. Beginning in 2018 with a bitter defeat against Colombia at the Stade de France (2-3), Didier Deschamps and his players were in the spotlight, just three months from the start of the World Cup in Russia.
Until June, the Team France has chained four friendlies, with a record of 3 wins and 1 draw. Faced with opponents within their reach, the Blues win, but do not convince. Critics are falling on Deschamps, the style of play and some individualities, like Giroud or Digne.
A trip to history
June 16, 2018 , that's it, France is playing its first match of World Cup. In front of Australia, the Blues want to start in the best way the competition. Thanks to a win at the snatch, under the leadership of Antoine Griezmann, the Tricolores take three important points against fierce Socceroos.
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For the last two meetings of the group, the Team of France suffers, but ensures the essential. With a win against Peru and a draw against Denmark, the Blues are qualified for the knockout stages of the World Cup in Russia, with the crazy idea to replicate the success experienced by the team of 1998, twenty years later.
In the round of 16, France must face Argentina's Lionel Messi, a formidable opponent. The Blues score at the start, but see the Argentineans return to the score, and even take advantage of the return of the locker room. And there, the miracle. "Second post Pavard!" , a resumption of dry flight which is housed in the skylight. Benjamin Pavard, young blue among the Blues, marks the spirits.
France is galvanized. Kylian Mbappé, a young tricolor talent, then decided to register a double in less than five minutes, sealing a French win won over courage. In difficulty, the Blues are present, and validate their ticket to the quarter-finals.
On the roof of the world
In a quarter-final played against Uruguay, it is the French, well launched by Raphael Varane, always guided by Antoine Griezmann, who qualify for the last four. Faced with Belgium, Team France sees one of the favorites of the competition stand in front of them.
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But the Blues, strong in their experience, make thwart the Red Devils , in an encounter where the adage "dominate is not win" makes sense. The Blues make mute a formidable Belgian attack since the beginning of the World Cup, and arrive in the final. The success is reaching out, but France does not want to project, and avoid reproducing the same mistakes made in the final of Euro 2016.
The Blues are in the final. Finally. Faced with Croatia Modric, Rakitic and others, the Team of France sees the trophy, behind the Croatian checkered jersey. And in a meeting, unforgettable for most French, dominated from start to finish by the players of Deschamps, the Blues are on the roof of the world. Twenty years later, the French team becomes world champion for the second time in its history.
An almost perfect ending
On a cloud, the Team of France returns from Russia memories full head, and a second star embroidered on the shirt. Between the party and the communion with his supporters, the Blues restart the machine in the League of Nations against Germany and the Netherlands, where they draw a draw and a victory.
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But the French seem to have a hard time coming down to Earth, and the results translate to less successful performances. Facing Iceland, Kylian Mbappé allows France to avoid defeat. In Rotterdam, for the return match against the Netherlands, the Blues are dominated, and bow logically, slightly spoiling the year 2018.
The last friendly match against Uruguay marks a beautiful end to the international season. On the individual and collective level, France has raised the level, and unite in a fight, a common goal. The Blues are world champions, and this, forever.