Former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright has identified Argentina as the only team capable of stopping France from winning the 2026 World Cup. Speaking on The Overlap, Wright echoed earlier remarks by Gary Neville, who had named Argentina as the most realistic challenger to Didier Deschamps' side.
Wright's assessment of France's dominance
France have been in imperious form, sweeping aside all opposition with an ultra-attacking style. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Bradley Barcola have terrorized defenses. Mbappe scored twice in the round of 32 against Sweden, taking his World Cup tally to 18 goals in 18 appearances, just one shy of Lionel Messi's all-time record.
However, Wright believes Argentina possess the 'warrior nature' to disrupt France's rhythm. 'It's going to take an Argentina because of the warrior nature of Argentina,' Wright said. 'Make it horrible for them.' He suggested that Argentina could frustrate Mbappe and Dembele by making the game physically and mentally tough.
France's unity under Deschamps
Despite a history of internal strife, Wright sees no signs of ego clashes. 'They look together,' he noted. 'If there was going to be an implosion, it would be Mbappe and Dembele, but they look so tight.' He praised the team's cohesion, highlighted by Mbappe's willingness to feed Michael Olise. Wright also pointed to comments by Aurelien Tchouameni about manager Deschamps' final tournament, saying the players are determined to win for him.
Gary Lineker echoed Wright's views on The Rest Is Football, saying France seem 'really together' and that it will be 'incredibly difficult' for any team to beat them. Lineker named Argentina and Spain as potential threats, though he noted Spain have not looked convincing. 'I would say Argentina are the ones,' Lineker said.
Poll and broader context
A Metro poll asks readers whether any team can stop France, with options for 'Yes' and 'No'. France won the World Cup in 1998 and 2018 but have also experienced self-destruction, notably in 2010. However, Wright and Lineker agree that this squad appears focused and united, making them overwhelming favorites.
