He is clear about it. The former captain of Barcelona, Carles Puyol, stated on Thursday that the France National Team is the clear favorite to win the Qatar 2022 World Cup, which will be held between November and December.
"France has an impressive team; any of the 23 players can be a starter. We'll see how they arrive at Qatar 2022, but they are the favorite for me," said Carlos Puyol, the former footballer who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010, visiting Chile for a sports event.
Puyol was in the South American country for the relaunch of a banking platform, an initiative that seeks to promote the development of children through sports. During a press conference, he gave his opinions about the upcoming World Cup, which will be held in the Middle East for the first time. After that, he shared his thoughts regarding Qatar 2022.
Will France confirm its status as favorite and triumph in Qatar 2022?
In the upcoming World Cup, the French team, the reigning title holders after winning their second World Cup crown in Russia 2018 against Croatia (4-2), will share Group D with Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia.
For the former Barcelona star, who played 100 official matches and three World Cups with Spain, his country is behind teams like Argentina, Brazil, or Germany.
"I don't think (Spain) should be labeled as the favorite in Qatar 2022, but I have a lot of confidence in this young generation. I wish them the best of luck and let's see how far we can go," he said about the renewed Spanish national team, which reached the semifinals of the last Euro 2020.
Puyol doesn't lose faith in Spain in Qatar
Furthermore, he called for patience with Luis Enrique's team and urged experienced players to help the younger ones.
"There are players with a lot of desire, with a lot of strength. Sometimes, fans and the press want immediate results and patience is sometimes lacking," he said.
'La Roja' will make their debut in Qatar 2022 on November 23, 2022, against Costa Rica in Group E, which also includes the four-time world champions Germany and Japan.
(AFP)