I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the first few days of this World Cup, contrary to my own expectations. The crowds have been lively, the games have been fun, and the fever is catching all around this vast country. It’s early days still, barely halfway through the first set of group stage games, but so far … so good.
And today is set up for further fun, with both finalists from four years ago and one of the more popular dark horse candidates all beginning their journeys.
Giddyup!
Beaten finalists four years ago. Champions the four years prior to that. Ever-expectant, World Cups tend to go either great, or downright disastrous for France. Champions 1998, 2018. Didn’t win a game 2022, 2010. Runners-up 2006, 2022. Didn’t even qualify 1990, 1994.
One of those disasters began with defeat to Senegal in the opening match of the 2002 tournament.