For decades, it was often the case that the side who won the last World Cup would be considered one of the favourites to win it again at the next edition, or to at least make it to the latter stages of the tournament.
However, in the recent years we are seeing a trend of teams failing in spectacular style to defend their World Cup crown.
It's happened so often that some believe there is a curse or hex on defending champions that prevents them from defending the World Cup
The Sporting News analyses this 'curse', and whether France are in any danger of falling victim to it.
MORE: Which teams have qualified for the 2022 World Cup
What is the World Cup winners curse?
The World Cup winners curse is where the team that won the last World Cup fails in ignominious circumstances to defend their crown by not getting out of their group.
The first modern instance of this 'curse' being in play came in the 2002 World Cup where France finished bottom of their group without scoring a single goal, and also fell to an opening night defeat to tournament debutants Senegal.
Italy, 2006 winners, were next and are the most extreme example of the curse, having failed to get out of a weak group in 2010. They fell at the same stage in 2014 and failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 editions of the tournament.
Spain, 2010 champions, shocked the world in 2014 when they fell to 5-1 and 2-0 defeats to the Netherlands and Chile respectively, signalling the end of their golden era of international football.
Germany, 2014 winners, then finished bottom of their group in 2018. After losing their opening match to Mexico 1-0, a 2-0 loss to South Korea consigned them to their worst ever World Cup finish.
#KOR #KOR #KOR
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 27, 2018
When Son Heungmin capped off a famous win for Korea Republic against reigning #WorldCup champions Germany!
👀 TV listings 👉 https://t.co/xliHcye6wm
📺 Highlights 👉 https://t.co/LOdKDXkdnV pic.twitter.com/l0jUevqIZx
How long has the World Cup curse existed?
The curse began in 2002 with France's failure to defend their crown. Before then, only one team had failed to reach the second round of the tournament and this was Uruguay in 1934, who refused to travel to a European World Cup.
Since 2002, Brazil has been the only team to avoid the curse, reaching the quarterfinals in 2006 before falling to a star-studded French team.
| Edition | Defending champions | Record (W-D-L) |
Goal difference | Stage eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | France | 0-1-2 | -3 | Group stage |
| 2006 | Brazil | 4-0-1 | +8 | Quarterfinals |
| 2010 | Italy | 0-2-1 | -1 | Group stage |
| 2014 | Spain | 1-0-2 | -3 | Group stage |
| 2018 | Germany | 1-0-2 | -2 | Group stage |
France World Cup injuries
France arrived at Qatar 2022 with a form and injury list that suggested the hex might be starting earlier than normal.
Starting midfielders N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba were ruled out through injury, as was goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
And the injury woes continued once the team touched down in country, with defender Presnel Kimpembe and exciting attacker Christopher Nkunku forced to withdraw from the squad after picking up injuries.
Star striker Karim Benzema also withdrew from the squad, leaving France without the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner among their attacking options.
MORE: France injuries for 2022 FIFA World Cup
France World Cup schedule
France got off to an encouraging start in their match against Australia, winning 4-1 and putting in an attacking performance that wowed the world.
A 2-1 victory over Denmark then secured their place in the last 16, and after losing 1-0 to Tunisia in their final group game they confidently beat Poland 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals and end their chances of succumbing to the defending champions' hex.
A tense quarterfinal against England saw France benefit from a Harry Kane penalty miss en route to a 2-1 victory, and in the semifinals Didier Deschamps' men beat a strong Morocco team 2-0.
Having avoided an early exit, France find themselves with the opportunity to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, if they can beat Argentina in the final at Lusail Stadium.
