The France of Deschamps and Mbappé has joined a historic World Cup club

France’s current generation has earned its place among soccer’s all-time elite. Reaching a third consecutive men’s World Cup semifinal puts Les Bleus alongside Brazil and just one step behind Germany in one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs.

Brazil reached the penultimate round in three straight World Cups on two separate occasions (1970, 1974, 1978 and again in 1994, 1998, 2002), winning the title in 1970, 1994, and 2002.

Germany went one better, going on an incredible streak of four consecutive World Cup semifinal appearances. The tournaments of 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 helped cement the legend behind Gary Lineker’s famous quote: “Football is a simple game - 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.” Those teams are remembered for iconic players such as Oliver Kahn, Miroslav Klose, and Michael Ballack. On two other occasions, the Germans reached three straight semifinals, from 1966 to 1974 and again from 1982 to 1990. Across the above trio of last-four sequences, Die Mannschaft lifted the trophy three times: in 1974, 1990, and 2014.

Now France has put together a World Cup semifinal run of its own, led by star striker Kylian Mbappé and head coach Didier Deschamps. The latter has been the architect of a remarkable achievement, instilling a winning mentality that few national teams can match. This French team will be remembered much like those dominant German sides of the past - teams capable of overwhelming opponents with their physicality, power, and relentless intensity, often intimidating rivals before a ball was even kicked.

The great Brazilian teams of old, so different from the current version, carried a trademark blend of flair, creativity, and joy that turned every match into a celebration of the game. The exception came at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when coach Carlos Alberto Parreira favored a tougher, more pragmatic approach built around strength in midfield rather than technical brilliance. It was the tournament of Romário, but also of players like Dunga and Mauro Silva.

Mbappé magic at heart of French feat

This French side has continued to evolve. The national team has undergone significant changes since winning the World Cup in 2018. In fact, from that championship squad, only Lucas Hernández, Ousmane Dembélé, and, of course, Kylian Mbappé remain. Along the way, stars such as Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Raphaël Varane, Olivier Giroud, and N’Golo Kanté have each left their mark. But if there is one player who perfectly embodies the identity of this history-making French team, it is Mbappé.

The Real Madrid star has consistently produced his very best performances in a France jersey. It is true that during the 2018 triumph he benefited from the brilliance of Pogba and the tireless support of Griezmann, but Mbappé has always found a way to leave his signature on the biggest stages. He did it again in 2022, pushing Lionel Messi’s Argentina to the limit in one of the greatest World Cup finals ever played. Now he is once again leading a French team that continues to impress, one that has secured a record-setting third consecutive World Cup semifinal appearance.

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