France break champions curse: Becomes the 1st team to reach the Round of 16 in World Cup 2022

France finally have broken the recent long-time frustrating champions curse in the FIFA World Cup as they became the first team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022. Since the 2010 edition, it is the first time when the defending FIFA WC champions managed to reach the knockout stages, in other words, managed to cross the group stage.

The WC 2018 champions France, which was also their second World Cup trophy, are among the favourites for the 2022 edition in Qatar. In this tournament, they are in Group D along with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.

While France started this World Cup with a 4-1 win against Australia, they became the first team to reach the Round of 16 of this tournament with a 2-1 victory against Denmark. Les Blues are yet to play their last group-stage game against Tunisia.

In the previous three World Cups, Italy, Spain and Germany failed to achieve the latest feat of France

In the ongoing 21st century’s FIFA World Cup, it is the only second time that the defending champions managed to cross the group stage. While defending champions France were eliminated in the group stage during the 2002 edition, the defending champions Brazil were eliminated from the quarter-finals in the 2006 edition.

In 2010, 2014 and 2018, the respective defending champions Italy, Spain and Germany all failed to advance to the knockout stages in the respective tournaments.

Also Read | FIFA World Cup 2022: France - World Cup Records and Stats

Defending champions’ ultimate result in each FIFA World Cup

*yet to be finalised

Now, Les Blues are eyeing to finish the group stage in the best possible way by winning the Tunisia match and finishing on top of Group D.