World Cup round of 16 power rankings: Can anyone stop Brazil?

By James Dudko | Jun 29, 2018

TOPSHOT - Brazil's forward Neymar waves at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group E football match between Serbia and Brazil at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 27, 2018. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images) /

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France’s midfielder Paul Pogba attends a training session in Istra, west of Moscow on June 27, 2018, during the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) /

7. France

France did what many expected by winning Group C. But nobody is mistaking Les Bleus for champions elect after three middling performances.

There has been an element of good fortune and doing the minimum required to get results. Luck was clearly on the French side during a 2-1 win over Australia. Goals came from a dubious penalty and a late deflection of a Paul Pogba shot.

A nervy 1-0 win over Peru followed, before Les Bleus and Denmark hit the snooze button during a goalless draw in Moscow.

It’s not unreasonable to expect more from a squad containing Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe. Coach Didier Deschamps has struggled to get the balance right, especially up top.

Olivier Giroud is a willing target man, but his battering ram-like attributes don’t dovetail well with Griezmann. A swifter, more fluid front three of Griezmann, Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele would surely be more effective.

Adding more guile to a midfield overly reliant on Pogba for inspiration would also help. Moving Florian Thauvin or Thomas Lemar centrally might make the difference.

It means Deschamps has a pretty big to-do list ahead of facing off with Argentina.

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