Vieri believes only two Italy players would start for World Cup favourites France
Quick summary
Former Italy striker Christian Vieri claims only two Azzurri players would earn a place in France's starting XI, highlighting a perceived quality gap ahead of the World Cup.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceCristian Vieri believes that France have ‘the most complete squad’ at the 2026 World Cup, that they and Argentina are the favourites to win the title again and says that only two Italy national team players are good enough to start for Didier Deschamps’s side.
The legendary former Inter and Italy striker gave his assessments of the 2026 World Cup thus far in an in-depth interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Vieri: France or Argentina for the World Cup, two Italy players get into Deschamps’s side He believes that the 2026 tournament is one that focuses around two nations and three individuals: France and Argentina are the nailed-on favourites to win that most coveted of trophies, but it is a three-horse race between Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot.
“France are the most complete, there is no competition. They’re too strong,” Vieri told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I’m looking at France and Argentina, because Messi defies all logic. He’s like Harry Potter, he’s making magic even at 39 years old.
“He’s in a different category, there is no comparison with the others. He, Mbappe and Haaland will play for the Golden Boot and I would also say watch out for Norway, along with Brazil, for me, they are almost among the favourites.
“As for the all-time top scorer rankings, though, there is no competition. Mbappe is younger, he will get another six or seven goals at the next World Cup and will leave everyone behind.”
There is, of course, no Italy at the 2026 World Cup following the play-off final heartbreak against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of March. But that doesn’t mean that there is a lack of Italian talent.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City celebrates his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road on February 28, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Vieri believes that there are still two Italy representatives that are strong enough to start for his World Cup favourites, France: “Yes, Donnarumma and Tonali,” he declared.
Read more: How much will Milan earn from Tonali’s €116m record transfer to Tottenham?
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What happened
Christian Vieri, the former Italy international and World Cup veteran, has given a stark assessment of the current Azzurri squad compared to France, who are widely regarded as World Cup favourites. Vieri stated that only two Italy players would be good enough to start for France, suggesting a significant talent gap between the two nations. While he did not name the two players in the headline, the comments fuel ongoing debate about Italy's squad depth and quality as they prepare for a major tournament. The remarks reflect a broader concern among Italian football figures about the country's ability to compete with the elite international sides.
Chance analysis
Vieri's comments, while opinion-based, underscore a recurring concern in Italian football about squad quality relative to Europe's top nations. France's depth across virtually every position makes them a benchmark, and Vieri's assessment suggests Italy's current generation lacks comparable individual quality. For prediction systems, this is a sentiment indicator rather than a tactical data point — it reflects pre-tournament expectations and media narrative around Italy's competitiveness.
No direct impact on teams or matches; this is a commentary piece that may shape narrative around Italy's tournament expectations.
An opinion piece with no direct match or lineup impact; consider it background context on Italy's perceived squad strength relative to France ahead of a potential World Cup encounter.