Football fans have dismissed France's chances of defending their World Cup crown amid an injury crisis.
It was confirmed on Monday that Paul Pogba would miss the tournament through injury, joining N'Golo Kante and Mike Maignan on the treatment table for the duration of the competition.
The list has left manager Didier Deschamps with several problems to solve with the tournament now less than three weeks away, and social media has reacted to the issues the French squad is facing.
One Twitter user said: 'Yeah France are actually finished. I already wasn't expecting much from them as it was but now the expectation is rock bottom.'
With defender Raphael Varane also at risk of missing the tournament, another added: 'France lost Pogba, Kante, Maignan and Varane, the World Cup curse is actually real…'
France have been in poor form recently, with one win and three defeats in their last six games as they finished third in their Nations League group, narrowly avoiding relegation.
The side aren't short on depth, with two of Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot and Eduardo Camavinga likely to replace the first choice duo in the team.
One fan, however, described the replacements as 'a monumental downgrade' claiming France are 'finito'.
Another added: 'No Kante and no Pogba, France are cookedddd next month', while a third said: 'France without Paul Pogba might not reach quarterfinals in the World Cup.'
A third said: 'France won't make it out of The World Cup Group Stages.'
England could be set to face Les Bleus in the quarter-finals of the tournament if all goes to plan for both sides.
If best countries win their respective groups as expected, they should face kind last 16 ties before a potential match-up in the last eight of the tournament.
Mr_nice_all_day
0
Any of the 32 teams.
Yes
RM_y_nada_mas
0
Well to add to that no1 really knows where the ball is going to bounce tomorrow so yes you are 100 % right an that was well put I see you know your football knowledge, so a quick question with your experience and understanding who would you bet on winning the world cup
Any of the 32 teams.
Mr_nice_all_day
0
Please live in the present… in the past 5 years can you compare pogba to tchouameni or camavinga? Forget that name… camavinga was a catalyst to Madrids comebacks in crucial UCL stages over teams with veteran players. Football is on the pitch. All this history and experience is if the said person can even play… Vinicius is 1billion times better than hazard but the not smart Belgians would take hazard to the World Cup and captain him. What is hazard in the past 5 years? Doesn’t he have experience? Think football and not names of players. When these youngsters have stayed in football as long as pogba, considering each era gets tougher. Come back and compare them and see if pogba is a match. Camavinga and better still tchouameni as cdm are far better forms of what pogba was aiming for before the haircuts and overratings… to say they are new versions is an abuse they are way superior. I repeat pogba only ever played football during his first spell at Turin and maybe 2-3 seasons at United… the rest is noise.
Well to add to that no1 really knows where the ball is going to bounce tomorrow so yes you are 100 % right an that was well put I see you know your football knowledge, so a quick question with your experience and understanding who would you bet on winning the world cup
RM_y_nada_mas
0
Dude, how much I wish that would exactly happen so that we can really see, first of all cama and tchou are still young and lack that major experience of playing on such a big stage,and pogba knows and is used to Frances strikers more so do you think the coach would bet his money on young fresh talent over experience
Please live in the present… in the past 5 years can you compare pogba to tchouameni or camavinga? Forget that name… camavinga was a catalyst to Madrids comebacks in crucial UCL stages over teams with veteran players. Football is on the pitch. All this history and experience is if the said person can even play… Vinicius is 1billion times better than hazard but the not smart Belgians would take hazard to the World Cup and captain him. What is hazard in the past 5 years? Doesn’t he have experience? Think football and not names of players. When these youngsters have stayed in football as long as pogba, considering each era gets tougher. Come back and compare them and see if pogba is a match. Camavinga and better still tchouameni as cdm are far better forms of what pogba was aiming for before the haircuts and overratings… to say they are new versions is an abuse they are way superior. I repeat pogba only ever played football during his first spell at Turin and maybe 2-3 seasons at United… the rest is noise.
Mr_nice_all_day
0
Calm down.. this pogba injury news is irrelevant. Without the news how many times have you heard his name since he pogback again?😂😂 That’s an overrated flop. He played all his football in juve that first year… fit or not he has no space in the French squad.
Dude, how much I wish that would exactly happen so that we can really see, first of all cama and tchou are still young and lack that major experience of playing on such a big stage,and pogba knows and is used to Frances strikers more so do you think the coach would bet his money on young fresh talent over experience
satla
0
World cup always like that, you win it next world cup just group stages you out. check the history.
but what about pele when he won it back to back
Temba10
0
I wonder which football these fans watch because Tchouameni and Camavinga are best upcoming middle filders in the world. If anything this is their chance to show the world their capabilities. France To Win The WC for me.
Black Jay
1
World cup always like that, you win it next world cup just group stages you out. check the history.
Leeabenosu
3
They still have worldclass
fehciklpr
0
i still think France has an excellent chance of retaining the trophy, for one thing, they will score lots of goals, and goals win matches
my bro u said my mind 😏
RM_y_nada_mas
0
Than I guess you have alot to learn, before you hate go and see the stats. Do you think mbappe would be that excellent if it wasn't for pogba's passes
Go and rest… you’ve gone out of topic. Tell me which cdm would not play for pogba to play.!!!! Don’t come and type things you heard in a beer parlor. I’ll star this reply and keep. Now I wish him speedy recovery so you see live with your eyes that he’ll bench from 1st to last unless kante, camavinga, tchouameni to name a few aren’t available…
Mr_nice_all_day
0
They still have 2 decisive characters in the squad.. Benzema & Mbappe !
True but those 2 still needs those deep amazing passes from pogba, one pass he cuts out 2 to 3 defenders making a striker's job easier but not many see it that way due to pogba's huge price tag
Mr_nice_all_day
0
Calm down.. this pogba injury news is irrelevant. Without the news how many times have you heard his name since he pogback again?😂😂 That’s an overrated flop. He played all his football in juve that first year… fit or not he has no space in the French squad.
Than I guess you have alot to learn, before you hate go and see the stats. Do you think mbappe would be that excellent if it wasn't for pogba's passes
Blacknight8235
2
i still think France has an excellent chance of retaining the trophy, for one thing, they will score lots of goals, and goals win matches
Nohaclr
0
Semifinalists: 1-Argentina 2-Brazil 3-Belgium 4-Germany or Croatia
RM_y_nada_mas
1
Calm down.. this pogba injury news is irrelevant. Without the news how many times have you heard his name since he pogback again?😂😂 That’s an overrated flop. He played all his football in juve that first year… fit or not he has no space in the French squad.
piebcloruz
1
they wont reach quarter finals
piebcloruz
0
pogba and kante
LandonDonovan1
0
France lost varane but they still have Saliba konate upamecano etc
They don’t have a champions league medal but they are playing at the highest level football has to offer. Mabbape didn’t win a champions league medal but he won them the World Cup didn’t he??
Kitdenrsuy
1
Brazil remains favorite for this year tournament 💯💯💪
Sure me too, I pray Argentina take it home because of Messi, but on squad depth, Brazil is favorite.
GGMUSTAR
0
France lost varane but they still have Saliba konate upamecano etc
Tell me one with a single champions league medal among these three Experience on the big stage matters okay??
GGMUSTAR
1
Brazil remains favorite for this year tournament 💯💯💪
Don’t forget that man Lionel Messi He is coming with fire I can feel it Argentina I’m suspecting them
Kitdenrsuy
0
Brazil remains favorite for this year tournament 💯💯💪
Roddeiop
1
they can still win as long as they work as a team
LandonDonovan1
1
France lost varane but they still have Saliba konate upamecano etc
JohnRahul
3
They still have 2 decisive characters in the squad.. Benzema & Mbappe !
jezabdnpyz
0
Even Without All These Injury Issues.., France 🇫🇷 Chances Of Retaining Their World Cup Crown 🏆 Is Close To ZERO.