On This Day: France Win the 2018 World Cup!
Seven years on from their second title, we look back at France's run to the 2018 World Cup -- relive the magic of their amazing run with our latest article.
The squad
On the back of a stirring 2016 European Championships on home soil that saw France reach the final, manager Didier Deschamps looked to rejuvenate his squad for this tournament, leaving out veterans Dimitri Payet, André-Pierre Gignac and Yohan Cabaye. He would, however, include nine players from Ligue 1 McDonald's, including the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Nabil Fekir, who hadn't featured two years ago. Seven years later, seven of those players are plying their trade in Ligue 1 McDonald's: Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernández and Ousmane Dembélé (all Paris Saint-Germain), Corentin Tolisso (Olympique Lyonnais) Djibril Sidibe (Toulouse FC), and two new arrivals: Paul Pogba (AS Monaco) and Olivier Giroud (LOSC Lille).
Group stage
While France were the favorites to progress from a group that contained Denmark, Peru and Australia, things were challenging for Les Bleus in the tournament's early going as Deschamps sought to get the right attacking balance. Indeed, it would take a penalty and an own goal to beat Australia in the opening match 2-1, while Mbappé would score the only goal in a hard-fought affair against Peru, becoming France's youngest goalscorer at a World Cup in the process. The final match was a scoreless draw against the Danes, with a draw good enough for both sides to advance.
7 years since France became two-time World Champions 🏆🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/ideLnCVlxX
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) July 15, 2025
Round of 16
In the Round of 16, despite having topped their group, France were handed a difficult draw in the form of Argentina, 2014's beaten finalists and a team boasting the likes of Sergio Aguero, Ángel Di María and Lionel Messi. A lively affair saw Antoine Griezmann open the scoring early doors, but Di Maria leveled the match just before the break. In the second half, though, the game reached another level, with the two teams breathlessly trading blows. Defender Gabriel Mercado put the Argentines ahead before Benjamin Pavard scored a stunner just before the hour. Ten minutes and a quickfire Mbappé double, France were up 4-2, the young Frenchman marking himself as the tournament's breakout player. A stoppage-time strike from Aguero made a nervy finish, but France confidently passed to the next round, where they would face a rather different South American side.
Quarterfinals, Semifinals
As open and devil-may-care as Argentina had been in the Round of 16, Uruguay were as resolute in the next round, with a veteran defence and a solid midfield stymieing France. Just before the break, Raphäel Varane would nod home at a set piece, his cushioned header flashing across goal to give France the lead. Griezmann would strike again just after the hour, and France were on their way, their hard-working midfield offering balance to their attacking flair. In the semifinals, they managed to neutralize a strong Belgium side, winning 1-0 thanks to a goal by former Lyon defender Samuel Umtiti.
Final
In the final, France would square off a lung-busting Croatia side. With the likes of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic in midfield, the Croatians were hardly shrinking violets, but France's task would be complicated by N'Golo Kanté struggling with illness. Undeterred, France took the lead with a Mario Mandzukic own goal, but Ivan Perisic would level the match in short order (28'). Antoine Griezmann would restore the lead from the penalty spot, and after the break, Pogba and Mbappé would score six minutes apart to make it 4-1. Croatia would pull another goal back, but the final margin would stand as France won their second title.
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