FIFA World Cup 2022: Will the infamous Champions' curse strike France once again?

The World Cup Champions’ curse has amazed football fans since 2002.

The curse has seen as many as 4 World Cup winners not able to make it past the group stages while trying to defend their crown at the very next World Cup.

It started with 1998 winners France getting knocked out of the 2002 World Cup group stage and followed on to Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014, and Germany in 2018.

The only exception were 2002 winners Brazil, who managed to get past the group stages in the 2006 World Cup. Brazil's exception meant that only European World Cup champions have been the victims of the curse so far.

France have already fallen prey to the curse in 2002 and with the 2018 World Cup winners already without World Cup-winning midfield duo of Paul Pogba and N'golo Kante, defender Presnel Kimpembe & forward Christian Nkunku, Les Bleus are certainly not looking at their strongest going into the tournament.

But defending champions France will be hopeful they can break the curse and go through to the knockout stages in Qatar with Ballon D'or winner Karim Benzema and France's golden boy Kylian Mbappe in the side.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup: Why Qatar 2022 is the most controversial tournament in history