England began their World Cup campaign with a win against Croatia, but Patrick Vieira has warned that they will not lift the trophy this summer. The Three Lions secured a 4-2 victory, overcoming a shaky first half to dominate after the break. Goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealed the win, but Vieira believes France remain the team to beat.
Vieira's Verdict on England's Performance
Speaking on The Rest is Football, Vieira said: "It was a really good performance. For the first game of a big tournament, there were question marks and they answered them well. But you don't want to build too much excitement. It was one of the best performances so far, on the same level as France and Argentina. But there's still a long way to go."
France: The Team to Beat
When asked how England would fare against France, Vieira was blunt: "The team to beat is France, no doubt. They are the best team in the competition and I believe they will go all the way and win the World Cup. England can hurt them, but not win it." France beat Senegal 3-1 in their opener, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice. The two sides last met in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, where France won 2-1.
World Cup Outlook
If both teams win their groups, they would not meet until the final. Bookmakers have France as narrow favourites, with England close behind alongside Spain and Argentina.
