When was the last time France played in the World Cup final and what happened?
What was the result the last time France reached a World Cup final?
France are in the World Cup final. Again. Copied and pasted directly from 2018, the last World Cup tournament. That time, it was celebrated in Russia, and France played against Croatia in the deciding game. Four years on, they will step out onto the pitch in Qatar to try to become the first team to win back to back World Cup since Brazil in 1962. Kylian Mbappé will go up against Lionel Messi in the fight that many have already labelled the present vs the future, and they will fight for the third star that both of them desire.
How did France end up at the World Cup 2022 final?
The reigning champions kicked off their Qatar campaign with a 4-1 win against Australia, followed up by a 2-1 victory over Denmark. In the final group game, with France already qualified, they fielded a weakened team and lost 1-0 to Tunisia. They topped the group on goal difference and went through to play Poland in the round of 16.
Mbappé scored two fantastic goals after Olivier Giroud became the all-time leading goalscorer for France against Lewandowski’s side. This victory set up a quarter-final tie against England, where a late header from Giroud sentenced Harry Kane’s impressive but ultimately wasteful side, who missed a penalty after scoring from the spot earlier in the game.
Surprise package Morocco were France’s next rival in the semi-final; the first African side to ever reach the final four of the World Cup had become everyone’s second team. France, however, were not in the mood for sentimentalism and put them away 2-0, with goals from Theo Hernández and Kolo Muani setting up their second consecutive final.
The last time France reached the World Cup final
As you may have guessed, France’s last final was at the last World Cup, four years ago in Russia. They beat Australia and Peru before a goalless draw with Denmark saw them top the group with 7 points. Argentina, ahem, came next in the round of 16 and fans were treated to one of the games of the tournament, with the French side winning 4-3: goals from Griezmann and that Pavard strike came before an Mbappé double sent Lionel Messi packing his bags in a see-saw match that could have ended up being a basketball score.
A Muslera howler allowed France to double their lead against Uruguay in the next round after Varane’s header in the first half saw them take the lead; another centre-back header came in the next game, this time from Umtiti in a 1-0 win over dark horses Belgium, and France were in the final.
They faced Croatia, a team that had refused to lie down all tournament, seeing off Russia, Denmark and England on their way. But the French were too strong, and thrashed Modric’s side 4-2 in a ludicrous match that had a penalty, an own goal, a goalkeeping howler and Mbappé becoming the first teenager since Pelé to score in a World Cup final.