Zlatan Ibrahimovic hails France as World Cup favorite on new level

Zlatan Ibrahimovic declared France the outright World Cup favourites following their 4-1 victory over Norway, telling Fox Sports the French team plays on a ‘completely different level’ and that opponents only stand a chance if France are not at their best. Ibrahimovic told Fox Sports, “If they are in form, I don’t see many teams beating them.” He added that the only chance for opponents is when France are not sharp. The interview was broadcast on the American network Fox Sports. Ibrahimovic noted that Kylian Mbappé impressed in the early matches of the tournament. He highlighted that Ousmane Dembélé was the standout against Norway, scoring a hat‑trick in the first half. He observed that all French players were finding the net.

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“No team has more quality in breadth,” Ibrahimovic said after reviewing France’s first three games. He said the squad possesses the necessary qualities. He emphasized that it is now up to the players to exploit those qualities. Ibrahimovic said he truly enjoys watching France because they get the most out of their star players. He remarked that extracting the most from such talent is the hardest task for a coach. He concluded that everyone in the French side is now playing really well.

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The conversation shifted to Studio Oranje, where former Dutch international Hedwiges Maduro provided analysis. Maduro contributed to an extensive preview of the upcoming Netherlands‑Tunisia match. The program offered a detailed look at the two teams ahead of their encounter.