According to an exclusive interview with lequipe.fr, English football legend Gary Lineker has firmly positioned France as the absolute team to beat in the ongoing 2026 World Cup. The 65-year-old former striker, who is currently hosting his podcast "The Rest is Football" from New York, shared his expert insights on why Les Bleus stand above all other competitors following the conclusion of the group stage.
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Subscribe Sekarang →Lineker revealed that while he initially viewed Spain as a slight favorite before the tournament kicked off, recent injuries to key Spanish stars Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino have shifted the balance. Based on his assessment, Spain has struggled to hit top gear, leaving France as the tournament's most formidable squad. "Désormais, la France est la meilleure équipe," Lineker stated, emphasizing that their exceptional depth makes them incredibly difficult to defeat.
From editorial monitoring of individual performances, France's attacking front has been nothing short of spectacular. Lineker expressed immense praise for Kylian Mbappé's sharp form and Ousmane Dembélé's sudden goalscoring surge, noting that Dembélé recently netted four goals across matches against Irak and Norvège. The Englishman predicted that if France secures the trophy, both players will comfortably be in the running for the Ballon d'Or.
The English icon also singled out young talent Michael Olise as a truly special player bound for global superstardom, validating early warnings he received from the owner of Crystal Palace before Olise's move to Bayern Munich in 2024. Furthermore, Lineker heavily praised the leadership of Didier Deschamps, describing him as a monumental force whose vast experience and leadership earn unwavering respect from the players, despite recent personal tragedy.
Looking ahead to France's upcoming round of 16 clash against Suède, Lineker dismissed any chance of an upset despite the presence of threats like Aleksander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres. From editorial observation, Lineker remains highly confident in France's firepower, even downplaying a potential quarter-final matchup against Allemagne. He concluded that the current German squad is one of the weakest he has seen, advising French fans that they can "sleep soundly" regarding their team's championship prospects.