By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA (AA) – France are one of the contenders to win the World Cup this year.
They will face Australia, Peru and Denmark in Group C.
The talented French national team experienced no trouble in qualifying for the World Cup in Russia topping their European qualifying group with 23 points in 10 matches.
The squad consists of world-class players in many positions, including Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and N'Golo Kante.
France conceded only six goals in the qualifying group stage and scored 18 times. Chelsea's Olivier Giroud and Atletico Madrid's Griezmann both scored four goals each.
Les Bleus won their only World Cup in 1998, beating Brazil 3-0 in the final when France hosted the tournament. They last competed in a World Cup final in 2006.
In the 2014 World Cup, France were knocked out of the tournament by hosts Brazil in the quarterfinal.
Confirmed 23-men squad of France:
Goalkeepers: Alphone Areola (Paris Saint-Germain), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Olympique Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Adil Rami (Olympique Marseille), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyonnais), Florian Thauvin (Olympique Marseille), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
Manager: Didier Deschamps
