World Cup 2022: France Become 1st Champions To Win a Knockout Game

• France have booked their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup and will face England
• Didier Deschamps and his wards are now the first champions to reach the knockout stages since 2006
• The likes of Spain, Italy and Germany won the World Cup and have failed to qualify for the knockout

France national team have emerged as the first champions in the FIFA World Cup to win a knockout game since the year 2006 when Italy won the title.

Interestingly, Italy defeated France in 2006 when they last won the World Cup with Zinedine Zidane getting a red card in that game after headbutting Marco Materazzi.

Since then, Italy have not passed the round of 16 at the World Cup as they even failed to qualify for the 2022 edition going on in Qatar.

Spain also won the World Cup in 2010 and they have also not gone pass the knockout stages ever since then.

Portugal World Cup Squad 2022: Is Cristiano Ronaldo playing this World Cup?

Football

Their performance in 2022

Spain did well in the group stages to reach the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, but they were sent out of the competition losing against Morocco on Tuesday, 6 December.

Germany were champions in 2014 winning the title in Brazil, but they have also failed to go past the round of 16.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Germans fought very hard, but were unable to qualify from the group stages.

What is new?

France won the World Cup in 2018 beating Croatia in the final, and they have qualified for the quarterfinal in Qatar after beating Poland in the knockout stages.

Kyle Walker makes vow

Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how England defender Kyle Walker promised to make life difficult for Kylian Mbappe ahead of their quarterfinal clash with France.

Iran's World Cup squad: Find out the full roster of team Iran in Qatar

Football

England's mouthwatering showdown with the defending world champions has been overwhelmed with discussions on how England can deal with the threat Mbappe poses.

Mbappe has so far played a starring role in France's quest to defend the World Cup, scoring five goals in the competition, by far the best player in the Mundial.

The 23-year-old is currently the top scorer at the World Cup but Walker reckons the quarterfinal clash is not about them.

The Three Lions full-back, who will be charged with stopping the France ace, vowed not to show too much respect.