France enters the 2026 World Cup as one of the heavy favorites, but according to 1998 World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf, the team’s toughest opponent might be itself. In an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints, set up by talkSPORT Bet Online Slots, the former Chelsea defender didn’t mince words about the potential pitfalls awaiting Les Bleus in North America.
Leboeuf acknowledged that Spain looms as a serious threat—possibly meeting France before the final—but he zeroed in on a deeper concern. “The best enemy of France is France itself,” Leboeuf said. “If you don’t find the chemistry, if you have ego issues between the players, they’re not gonna win anything. And when we are the favorites, it’s never good with France.”
Despite that warning, the French record is staggering. France has reached four of the last seven World Cup finals, winning in 2018 and finishing as runners-up in 2022. No team has made three consecutive finals since Brazil in the 1990s. “It’s possible for France to win, meaning having three World Cup finals in a row, which is exceptional,” Leboeuf added. “But you have to prove it.”
Kylian Mbappé Under the Microscope
Much of France’s success hinges on captain Kylian Mbappé, whose form for both Real Madrid and the national team has drawn scrutiny. Leboeuf defended the star forward’s talent but stressed the need for defensive commitment. “Nobody can deny that Kylian Mbappé is a great and fantastic player,” he said. “But he has to work on what he does when he loses the ball. We want him to go back into position, to show commitment to the defensive part of the game.”
Leboeuf pointed to the team’s supporting cast—players like Désiré Doué, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, and midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot—as key to unlocking Mbappé’s potential. “The team is a star, not only one player,” he insisted.
When asked whether Mbappé could break Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals, Leboeuf was cautiously optimistic. “That’s gonna be hard,” he said. “Nobody would have thought when Klose did it that they would be capable. Credit to him.” Mbappé currently sits at 12 goals.
Dembélé’s Transformation and a Generational Comparison
Leboeuf also praised Ousmane Dembélé’s remarkable turnaround from his struggling Barcelona days to becoming a Champions League final scorer and Ballon d’Or contender. “He realized he had to be professional,” Leboeuf said, crediting former coach Luis Enrique. “Everything that is happening to Ousmane, he absolutely deserves.”
Asked to compare the 1998 champions with the current squad, Leboeuf admitted it’s nearly impossible due to changes in officiating and style. But he gave the edge to his own generation. “We were more complete in every line—at the back, in midfield, we were so strong. And we had Zidane, Djorkaeff, Trezeguet, Thierry Henry. I wouldn’t say we were better, but it would have been a very difficult task for the 2026 team to beat us.”
France opens its World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16, followed by matches against Iraq and Norway. Leboeuf summed up the challenge: “With the talent we have, we will create fear for our opponents. But you need chemistry, you need luck, and you need to avoid injuries. It’s a long tournament.”
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