Five games, five wins. Fourteen goals scored, two conceded. France have romped through the World Cup with a fearsome attacking force led by Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola. Yet as they prepare for Thursday's quarter-final against Morocco, BBC Sport's journalists have picked out chinks in the armour of the overwhelming favourites.
Ian Wright, former Arsenal striker, summed up the mood: "France are one of the most clear favourites for a World Cup tournament I have ever seen." But Radio 5 Live senior football reporter Ian Dennis disagrees. "Spain are the team to beat and they're my favourites more than France," he said. "Spain have a greater control, defensively limit sides to few chances and are still yet to concede."
“BBC experts say France are beatable despite dominant World Cup run, pointing to Spain as a serious threat.”
Dennis pointed to struggles beneath the surface: "I saw all group games involving France but they don't possess the same level of control as Spain and do give teams a chance. Senegal should have been ahead at half-time and even an understrength Norway side created awkward moments in the first half in Boston."
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport's chief football writer, acknowledged France's brilliance but emphasised they are beatable. "France have looked the most impressive team in the World Cup so far," he said. But he warned of a potential semi-final against Spain, who are on a remarkable 35-game unbeaten streak in all competitions and knocked out Portugal with an injury-time winner. "Good as France are, this would represent a huge test for Deschamps' team," McNulty added.
And if France overcome Spain, they could meet World Cup holders Argentina or England in the final. "France are favourites to win the World Cup, but these sides would definitely believe they could be beaten – and let's not forget this tournament has already proved there are no foregone conclusions," McNulty said. Spain, he noted, "have every chance of beating France, even if they have flown slightly under the radar."
With Mbappe joint second in the Golden Boot race on seven goals, and the quality of Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki in reserve, France remain terrifying. But as the knockout rounds tighten, the narrative has shifted from inevitability to possibility. Morocco await, but the real question may be whether Spain, Europe's serial winners, can once again humble the 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up – just as they did in the Euro 2024 semi-final, winning 2-1.