Columbia 3-1.<\/span><\/p>\nFrance coach Didier Deschamps complained about long security lines in the United States and cited traffic jams on the way to Foxborough, Massachusetts, the venue for the team’s first-round match against Norway.<\/p>\n
“The most difficult thing was that it took us an hour and 15 minutes to get to the stadium before the match because the road was so long and so long,” he said through an interpreter during a friendly against Brazil in March. “It’s not easy.”<\/p>\n
Deschamps, who has been the coach since 2012, intends to step down after the tournament.<\/p>\n
France<\/h2>\n
If they win the title, Les Bleus will become the fifth country to have won the championship three or more times, after Brazil (five times), Germany and Italy (four times each) and Argentina (three times).<\/p>\n
Mbappe scored eight goals in the 2022 tournament, joining England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966 as the only players to score a hat-trick in a men’s World Cup final and winning the Golden Boot award. At 27 years old, he is in his prime and will go into June’s friendlies with 56 international goals, one shy of Olivier Giroud’s French record.<\/p>\n
In the 2022 final, France lost to Argentina on penalties.<\/p>\n
“Personally, I will never recover,” Mbappe said.<\/p>\n
Since winning the 2018 tournament, France lost to Switzerland in the round of 16 at the 2021 European Championship, to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final and to Spain in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.<\/p>\n
Norway<\/h2>\n
Norway, making their fourth World Cup appearance and first since 1998, are led by 25-year-old Erling Haaland, one of the world’s most prolific strikers. He has topped 30 goals in four consecutive seasons with Manchester City and is the country’s career leader with 55 goals for his country by June.<\/p>\n
“It’s a big responsibility to take Norway to the World Cup,” Haaland said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot on my shoulders and that\u2019s what I\u2019ve been working towards doing.\u201d <\/p>\n
Her father, Alfie, represented Norway at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.<\/p>\n
Alexander Sorloth, 30, is also a prolific Norwegian goalscorer. Norway’s captain, midfielder Martin Odegaard, has been slow to start this season due to knee and shoulder injuries.<\/p>\n
This will be Norway’s first major tournament since their only European appearance in 2000, when they were eliminated in the group stage.<\/p>\n
senegal <\/h2>\n
The Lions of Teranga enter their third consecutive World Cup amid a dispute with Morocco over who is Africa’s rightful champion.<\/p>\n
Senegal defeats Morocco african cup of nations final<\/span> It was there in January was stripped of the title<\/span> Because of the team’s actions towards the end of the game. <\/p>\nThe Confederation of African Football said Senegal forfeited the match after coach Pape Tiao ordered his players off the field for 15 minutes in protest of a second-half penalty awarded to Morocco. Senegal is appealed<\/span> Decided.<\/p>\nSenegal also won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Egypt in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw in the final. Sadio Mane, now 34 years old, has scored decisive kicks and is the country’s top scorer with 53 international goals, including a team-high five goals in the 2026 qualifiers.<\/p>\n
Other top players include goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, midfielder Idrissa Gueye and defender Kalidou Koulibaly.<\/p>\n
Iraq<\/h2>\n
The Mesopotamian Lions defeated Bolivia in the playoffs, making their first appearance in the World Cup since 1986, when they were 0-3.<\/p>\n
Graham Arnold took over as coach after leading his native Australia in the previous two stints.<\/p>\n
Top players include Aymen Hussain, a 30-year-old striker who ranks fifth in the country’s scoring list with 33 international goals. Forward Mohanad Ali. and midfielder Amir Al Anmari. <\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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