This 2022/2023 season promises to be a crucial year for French football. Ligue 1, continental competitions, World Cup: players and supporters will be on all fronts! In sight: the opportunity to definitively establish France in the world elite of football. But beware, many obstacles stand in the way. Here is a detailed dive into the opportunities and challenges ahead for clubs and the national team.
Ligue 1: towards a real big four?
PSG, OM, OL, Monaco: the four biggest French clubs of the past 20 years are well known to fans and the general public. We therefore expect each season to see them appear at the top of the rankings. However, at each end of the championship, at least one or two of these clubs are missing. Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais and AS Monaco have a hard time offering long-term performances in line with their budget.
It’s a shame, because these inconsistent results prevent Ligue 1 and French football fans from enjoying a real Big Four, with popular clubs constantly fighting for the top places, ensuring the spectacle and the sporting interest of the championship. Fortunately, in recent months, these clubs have succeeded in stabilizing their governance and their economic and sporting management. Behind the locomotive of PSG and their global stars such as Kylian Mbappé and Messi, major rivals are finally getting closer!
Ligue 1 is much more attractive when the other leading clubs in the championship outside PSG are present at the top of the ranking. This is what makes this start to the 2022/2023 season so interesting, with OM and OL stringing victories and putting pressure on Paris. Our monthly prediction challenge was not mistaken, since we follow all L1 matches this September. Come and show your tipster talent on this Bettor Undisputed Ligue 1 round !
European Cups: a long awaited victory
On the continental level, French clubs have a hard time demonstrating the undeniable quality of their teams. It has now been 27 years since any French club has won the Champions League or the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup). France thus sees its place of 5th in the UEFA coefficient ranking regularly threatened by an ever more ambitious Portugal, whose championship is nevertheless on a smaller scale.
For PSG and OM who play in the Champions League, ambitions are great this season. Their results will be essential to bring France closer to the European lead. PSG and Mbappé will continue their thirsty and so far unsuccessful quest for the title. For OM, returning to the most prestigious competition after erratic years, it will above all be a question of putting on a good show and getting out of their qualifying group.
Behind, other French clubs could also surprise in the Europa League. Stade Rennais, FC Nantes and AS Monaco are all involved in this competition. We expect a lot from Rennes and Monaco and their very good squad. Stade Rennais will have a lot to do to dominate Fenerbahçe and Dynamo Kyiv in their group, while Monaco have a more favorable group. Nice in the Europa League Conference will also have a say. For our clubs, it’s time to assert themselves on the European scene!
2022 World Cup: the ultimate stake
Behind the national and continental leagues, an even greater challenge is emerging: the 2022 World Cup. This year, exceptionally, the World Cup did not take place in the summer. Climatic conditions forced a change of callendar, thus national selections will leave for Qatar to conquer the Jules Rimet trophy from November 20 to December 18. For Kylian Mbappé and the French squad, the stakes are even higher, since the Tricolores endorse the status of defending champion, following their resounding victory in 2018 in Russia.
With two World Cup victories in 1998 and 2018, France is one of the dominant nations, but not of the top three represented by Germany and Italy (4 victories each), and Brazil and its 5 victories. A third victory would place France in 4th place on this list. It has been more than 50 years since any country has won the World Cup twice in a row. This shows the significance and difficulty of such a feat!
Note that in terms of prestigious trophies, France could already make the headlines in a few weeks, when the Ballon d’Or 2022 is awarded. This year, the competition for the title seems to come down to a French duel. Indeed, the two main contenders are Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé. After a decade dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the title should probably be awarded to Karim Benzema for his multiple exploits in the Champions League this season.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/yhPxGE95n0Q
The keys to success
For Kylian Mbappé, the most gifted player of his generation with the Norwegian Kevin Haaland, a golden future is emerging. Let’s hope it can inspire all of French football and clubs! The assets and strengths of French football have now been well established for twenty years, based on a second to none national team and young player academies, and on the sporting and economic contribution of Paris Saint-Germain. This year should allow other French clubs to follow suit.
For all of French football to shine, it is essential that its Ligue 1 championship becomes ever more attractive. This requires consistent performance at the highest level of all main L1 clubs. This concerns PSG of course, but also its rivals, who in recent years have had a hard time existing sportingly. Marseille, Lyon, Monaco, Rennes, Lille, Nice and Lens are eagerly awaited on the podiums and in the finals this season. That is all we wish for them!