Exclusive | Bacary Sagna: ‘I think that France have the necessary weapons to go all the way in this World Cup […] their main enemy could be themselves.’

Get French Football News had the opportunity to have a chat with former France, Arsenal and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna. In this part, Sagna assesses France’s chances of winning the World Cup – and looks forward to a special opening match, as Sagna’s two countries of citizenship meet.

You came very close to winning the league with both Arsenal and City – and also to winning Euro 2016 with France. With a World Cup coming up this year, do you think France has the means to win? 

I think that France have the necessary weapons to go all the way in this World Cup. When you look at their record over the last 10 or so years – quarter-finals in Brazil, the (Euros) final in 2016 in France, the final and a win in 2018, the final in 2022, it’s more or less the same squad, a group that is younger but has retained the same level of quality and performance. It’s a group that knows how to handle the pressure. 

They were under pressure in Russia with a lot of criticism of their style of play, but they won it. It’s a squad that was under pressure in Qatar, especially when they reached the quarter-finals and the semi-finals against Morocco. They had a lot of pressure, but they handled it. It’s a squad that was able to respond even in difficulty in the final. It’s a team that has exceptional players.

Of course, everyone will think of Kylian Mbappé, but beyond that, we have quality players like Ousmane Dembélé, like Michael Olisé, like William Saliba, like Rayan Cherki. We have so much talent in France that I feel like their main enemy could be themselves. Living together for five weeks, that’s the hardest thing – to keep that harmony. And that’s the coach’s job – to take a group that can live together for as long as possible, ignore the critics, not be affected by the pressure, accept the coach’s choices and be willing to sit on the bench, even if they’re used to being a starter at their club. I think that there needs to be cohesion in the team, which is important today during major competitions, and that’s what France represents. 

Now it’s a new competition that is about to get underway. I think France are in a group that they should be able to qualify from. I think they’ll gradually raise their game – France has never started a competition particularly strongly. So they have the experience now, despite it also being a very young squad.

Early in your career, you had the choice between Senegal and France. So, the first group match will surely be special for you?

I don’t know if special is the word, but yes, it’s going to remind me of 2002 [Senegal beat reigning champions France in the first match of the tournament], it’s going to remind me of the moment in 2004 when I had to make a choice – my roots are there. It’s a team that has just won the African Cup of Nations, that has a lot of quality, that is under no pressure, and it’s a team that will try to go above and beyond because it’s a prestige match. It’s a team that will enter the competition with its weapons and with a lot of confidence, and those teams are always tricky to play. 

We know very well that the first match is a tricky match because, if you get a bad result, then right from the start you put yourself under pressure, and you have no choice but to win afterwards. I think it’s a good match for both Senegal and France. But it’s not going to be an easy match. 

Senegal have a squad full of youth and quality, comfortable on the ball – as they showed against Morocco, playing effectively away from home. And it is a group that is solid defensively, too – they don’t concede many goals. They have quality players, with Sadio Mané at the top and many others who can create a little bit of magic, like Iliman Ndiaye, who is used to playing big games – he played at Marseille, he plays at Everton. Sadio Mané needs no introduction – we know what a natural leader he is. They have a coach who gives them confidence. They have a good goalkeeper, they have a solid defensive foundation, and they are good at set pieces. So they have all the ingredients to cause France problems. 

We know France’s quality, when you have Mbappé, Olisé and all the rest, it is a difficult team to handle both technically and individually – very strong. It’s going to be a good match.

Bacary Sagna was speaking to GFFN courtesy of Parimatch Online Casino

GFFN | Jeremy Smith