While Messi is focused at PSG, what Mbappe said that enraged fans

Emmanuel Petit believes that France can still be a major threat at the World Cup despite their poor preparation, insisting Kylian Mbappe can be key. France head to Qatar as world champions but have endured a relatively miserable 2022 after performing poorly in the Nations League, where they won just one of six group games as title holders, and also suffering key injuries to the likes of Pogba and N'Golo Kante.

In addition, concerns off the pitch have been headlined by Kylian Mbappe's wish to leave Paris Saint-Germain despite signing a bumper new contract in the summer, while speculation surrounds manager Didier Deschamps who is now in his tenth year in the role. Petit won the World Cup on home soil in 1998 but was also part of a France side who stumbled to a catastrophic group stage exit four years later at the Korea/Japan tournament.

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He fears there are similarities between that team and the current crop of stars. The former Arsenal star admits it is a stern reminder of what could go wrong for Les Bleus this winter. However, he also insists that without any turmoil France cannot perform at their best, claiming “when we are nice, we do not win” - a theory backed up by their Nations League success last year after losing on penalties to Switzerland at Euro 2020 just a few months prior.

France relish trouble

“Now we get troubles back. On the pitch because of injuries to important players and off the pitch because of old stories around some players,” said Petit. “It reminds me of what happened in 2002 when we crashed out altogether after winning the Euros and the World Cup. We were out after the group stage because of injuries even though we didn’t have issues off the pitch. But I have confidence in this team. I have confidence that these players have personality and character.”