France
The French national team has been inseparably linked with coach Didier Deschamps for over a decade. The man who took over the squad in 2012 after years of toxic internal disputes gave the team a completely new identity and turned it into an uncompromising winning machine. Deschamps has already won the World Cup as both a player and a coach, and now stands on the verge of an unprecedented hat-trick - triumphing once again as a coach and becoming a legend.
"He’s simply a winner. He has a natural winning mentality. He’s a leader who loves responsibility and the battle on the front lines," says his former teammate and legendary defender Marcel Desailly.
The foundation of France’s success is defensive solidity, anchored by players like William Saliba and N'Golo Kante. The solid defensive block serves one purpose: to set the stage for a devastating transition into attack.
"When France wins the ball back, everything changes. The speed of transition has always been our hallmark," adds Desailly. It’s precisely this ability to instantly and ruthlessly punish even the slightest opponent’s mistake that makes "Les Bleus" the biggest favourite of the entire tournament.
The Netherlands
On the other hand, the Netherlands - the country that gave the world revolutionary total football - carries a historic burden. The Oranje lost World Cup finals in 1974, 1978, and 2010.
"In a way, it’s a trauma. When you lose three finals and are always so close, it leaves a mark. My entire generation is affected by the lost final against Spain," agrees Flashscore News Dutch expert Paul Winters.
Although the Dutch have always tried to play exceptionally attractive football, it has never led to the coveted trophy. "It’s a paradox, isn’t it? There was always the desire to play beautiful football, but it never led to victory," smiles former Dutch forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Now, under the guidance of returning coach Ronald Koeman, the Dutch are trying to find their lost balance and reclaim the positions that are historically theirs. With a defence firmly led by captain Virgil van Dijk and a midfield orchestrated by Frenkie de Jong, they finally have a chance to step out of their own shadow.
Will the Dutch desire to break the long-standing curse be enough?
Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel, where you’ll find in-depth tactical analysis and powerful stories of the eight main favourites of the greatest world championship in history!
The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 48 national teams and will be played in 16 modern stadiums.
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