Gary Lineker Backs France for World Cup Glory

Gary Lineker praises Didier Deschamps while criticizing FIFA for blocking a tribute to the coach’s late mother during the World Cup.

Gary Lineker has labeled France as the clear favorites to seize the World Cup title, asserting that no manager in international football is better positioned than Didier Deschamps to lead the charge. The former England striker voiced his support for the French national team while simultaneously critiquing FIFA for a contentious decision regarding a tribute to Deschamps’ late mother.

Lineker is optimistic about France’s prospects as the tournament unfolds, considering the 2018 champions as the formidable contenders. Speaking with L’Equipe, he praised Deschamps, who has been at the helm since July 2012 and steered France to their 2018 World Cup triumph as well as a subsequent final appearance four years later. “France is not only among the favorites, but the favorite,” Lineker remarked, emphasizing Deschamps’ unique qualifications, noting his experience as a World Cup-winning coach and leader.

However, Lineker expressed disappointment with FIFA’s decision to prevent the French team from wearing black armbands in a match against Norway, during which players wanted to honor Deschamps’ mother, who recently passed away. Following France’s 4-1 win in that match, Deschamps attended the funeral before returning to Boston to rejoin his squad.

Lineker did not mince words regarding FIFA’s stance, calling the move disrespectful given the personal tragedy Deschamps has faced. “The loss of his mother is a tragedy, it’s really sad, and I still can’t believe that FIFA didn’t allow the players to wear a black armband. But that’s another subject…” he stated.

In stark contrast to his accolades for France, Lineker issued sharp criticism of Julian Nagelsmann’s German squad. Despite Germany’s historical status as four-time World Cup champions and topping their group in the current tournament, Lineker believes they are lacking in strength compared to previous iterations of the team. “I think it’s one of the weakest German national teams I’ve seen,” Lineker reflected, referencing their underperformance in recent competitions. He noted their failure to advance beyond the group stage in the last two World Cups, suggesting that the team has lost its former potency.

As the knockout phase approaches, Lineker confidently stated that France will navigate the tournament successfully. Les Bleus have been impressive, securing nine points in their group with victories over Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), and Norway (4-1). This success has been aided by standout performances from stars Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, both scoring four goals. With this momentum, Lineker believes Deschamps’ depth and talent make them nearly invincible as they look ahead to the upcoming rounds.

“France can qualify for the quarter-finals without any problem. So I believe you can sleep soundly,” he concluded, reassuring fans of France’s strong position in the tournament as they aim for a third star on their jersey.