Micah Richards is now backing France to win the World Cup after they ended their group stage in style with a 4-1 win over Norway.
France were one of the pre-tournament favourites, having won the competition in 2018 and finished runners-up in 2022.
Didier Deschamps’ side are littered with attacking talent and that has been on full show in the group stages, with Les Bleus scoring ten goals in their first three games.
Wins against Senegal and Iraq were followed by a convincing win against a heavily-rotated Norway side in their final group game on Friday, with Ousmane Dembele leading the way with a blistering hat-trick.
Don’t miss a World Cup moment
We’re witnessing history at this World Cup – our daily newsletter helps you make the most of it. Sign up.
Kylian Mbappe provided two assists for the Paris Saint-Germain forward, while Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue combined for France’s fourth in second-half injury time.
France are now set to face Sweden in the round of 32 on June 30 in New York, with a potential last-16 clash with Germany awaiting them.
Richards had backed reigning European champions Spain as his pre-tournament favourites, but the former England defender admitted he is now finding it hard to look past France as the most likely winners.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, he said: ‘I said Spain would win the World Cup, but I’m telling you now, France.
‘I don’t know what it is about them, but when the tempo needs to be risen a little bit, their electric pace on the counterattack, I’ve not seen that at the tournament.
‘I’ve seen teams play well, I’ve seen teams be organised, in the low-block. Argentina are playing for Messi, Morocco look strong, England looked really good against Croatia in that second, but a team that can turn it on – I’ve not seen a team like France.
‘So I think they are now my favourites.’
Richards was also keen to laud Dembele for his performance against Norway after the Ballon d’Or holder became the first player since 1994 to score a hat-trick in the first half of a World Cup match.
‘I think at PSG he is looked after a lot more in terms of the minutes,’ Richards added. ‘In terms of the minutes he’s played this season, he was sort of rested throughout the first part and then was able to have this form around the end of the season, took that into the Champions League, and he just looks fresh.
‘But what I like most about Dembele is how versatile he is. You can put him on the left, on the right, in the hole and you can put him up front as well. To be able to do that is just astonishing.
Who will win the World Cup?
-
France
-
Spain
-
England
-
Brazil
-
Argentina
-
Someone else
‘To get to the next level, he had to sort out his finishing and he’s now got the composure, and he can use both feet.
‘And what makes it even greater is he’s playing with someone who is the talisman in Kylian Mbappe. He is the go-to man whom everyone looks up to and he’s the one to take this French team forward.
‘But Dembele is someone who is so selfless but can do everything at the same time.’
Speaking exclusively to Metro before the tournament, former England striker Michael Owen also tipped France as his favourites, saying: ‘I think France individually are the best team.
‘When you look at their players, they’re miles better than anybody else in terms of individuals.
‘If they play as a team and they’re the best team and probably the likeliest winners.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.