[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-cherki-france-not-favorites-but-will-crush-everyone":43,"news-related-cherki-france-not-favorites-but-will-crush-everyone-en":84,"news-related-match-cherki-france-not-favorites-but-will-crush-everyone-en":185},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":28,"hostCities":39},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",5,22,"upcoming",[40,41,42],"Mexico City","Monterrey","Zapopan",{"article":44},{"awayTeamId":45,"awayTeamName":46,"body":47,"category":48,"excerpt":49,"homeTeamId":50,"homeTeamName":51,"id":52,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":53,"matchName":54,"publishedAt":55,"slug":56,"sourceName":57,"sourceURL":58,"teamId":59,"teamName":60,"teamIds":61,"teamNames":72,"title":83},"326222712819159040","Iraq","France’s run-up to the World Cup encountered an early hiccup as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Ivory Coast in a friendly on Thursday, but the post-match words of goalscorer Rayan Cherki underlined a team bristling with conviction rather than doubt. The Manchester City midfielder found the net for the second time in international colors, yet the result played second fiddle to the broader narrative of a squad fine-tuning its mechanisms ahead of the tournament’s kickoff later this month.\n\nCherki, speaking to TF1 after the final whistle, described his own display in measured terms. “On a personal level, it was a normal performance, just to get the legs going,” he explained, alluding to the intense training camp at Clairefontaine that has pushed the players hard. The fatigue was evident, but the 20-year-old made it clear that the priority lies elsewhere. “We’ve been working relentlessly, all season long. The goal is to be sharp on June 16.” That date marks France’s World Cup debut against Senegal, and every preparatory step is engineered with that fixture in mind.\n\nThe friendly itself was a tale of two halves. In the opening period, France controlled possession and probed for openings, a display of the technical quality that runs through Didier Deschamps’ squad. But after the interval, a flurry of substitutions on both sides disrupted the rhythm, and the match descended into a scrappier affair. Cherki acknowledged the shift: “It became more complicated in the second half. The game changed completely with all the changes – it was harder for them as much as for us.” The disjointed flow ultimately cost the hosts, but the midfielder framed the setback as a useful warning.\n\n“It’s a little wake-up call that helps us stay focused,” he said. Far from rattling the camp, the defeat appears to have reinforced the team’s resolve. This was not a night for panic; it was a controlled experiment from which lessons can be drawn before the stakes are raised.\n\nThen came the line that will echo through the buildup to the tournament. “We won’t be going to the World Cup as favorites, but to crush everyone,” Cherki declared. It was a bold statement of intent from a player who has emerged as a creative fulcrum in this France setup. While pundits may not label Les Bleus as the front-runners, the group possesses a quiet confidence that borders on ferocious. The quote distills a philosophy: this team is not interested in managing expectations; it wants to dominate.\n\nCrucial to that ambition is the blossoming chemistry between Cherki and Michael Olise. The two attacking talents have forged an almost telepathic understanding on the pitch. Cherki shed light on their dynamic: “With Michael, we understand each other without even speaking. If he drifts inside, I don’t want to step on his toes. It’s a natural reading of the game we share. It’s magnificent to play together.” Their synergy offers France a unpredictable edge, with both capable of unlocking defenses through individual brilliance or seamless interchanges.\n\nLooking ahead, the calendar offers little respite. The clash with Senegal on June 16 is a stern opener against a side packed with athleticism and tactical discipline. The friendly against Ivory Coast, another African powerhouse, served as ideal preparation for the physical and technical demands that await. Cherki’s emphasis on the collective spirit – “We have extraordinary group cohesion” – suggests a dressing room that is aligned in purpose and belief.\n\nThe road to a World Cup title is never linear, and France’s path is littered with potential pitfalls. Yet the messaging from within the camp is unambiguous: they are not there to simply compete. The defeat to Ivory Coast, rather than a source of alarm, has sharpened their focus. Cherki’s candid assessment reflects a maturity that belies his age, and his on-field relationship with Olise could be one of the stories of the summer.\n\nAs the final preparations intensify, France will recalibrate and harness the lessons from this friendly. The alarm bell had tolled, and the response, as Cherki’s words attest, is not trepidation but a heightened determination. The squad is acutely aware that the real tests are yet to come, and they intend to meet them with a blend of flair and ruthlessness.\n\nThe World Cup waits for no one, and for this French team, the message is clear: they may not arrive with the favorite’s tag, but they plan to leave with the trophy. The journey begins on June 16, and if Cherki’s conviction spreads through the squad, the rest of the world should take notice.\n\nBased on reporting from L'Equipe.","news","France lost 1-2 to Ivory Coast in a friendly but Rayan Cherki's defiant vow—'crush everyone'—set the tone for their World Cup opener vs Senegal on June 16.","326222711447621632","France","338109822610182145","327115069915664384","France vs Iraq","2026-06-04T21:51:59Z","cherki-france-not-favorites-but-will-crush-everyone","L'Equipe","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FRayan-cherki-apres-la-defaite-de-l-equipe-de-france-face-a-la-cote-d-ivoire-on-n-ira-pas-a-la-coupe-du-monde-en-tant-que-favoris-mais-pour-ecraser-tout-le-monde\u002F1681923#at_medium=RSS_feeds","326222712533946368","Ivory Coast",[59,50,45,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71],"326222711783165952","326257546258026496","326222712013852672","326222767416414208","326257537865224192","326257541157752832","326257556060114944","326257686389723136","326257807785463808","326222707169431552",[60,51,46,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82],"Senegal","Manchester City","Iran","Lesotho","Estoril","Galatasaray","Estudiantes L.P.","Together","Reading","Anderlecht","Cherki: France Not Favorites but Will 'Crush Everyone'",[85,107,139,164],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":86,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":87,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":88,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":89,"slug":90,"sourceName":57,"sourceURL":91,"teamId":59,"teamName":60,"teamIds":92,"teamNames":99,"title":106},"Guéla Doué scored and assisted as Ivory Coast beat France 2-1 in a friendly, outshining his brother Désiré who featured for Les Bleus in the sibling showdown.","338200147588550657","0","2026-06-05T04:00:00Z","guela-doue-downs-brother-s-france-ivorian-2-1-win","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FUn-but-et-une-passe-decisive-contre-la-france-la-soiree-de-reve-pour-guela-doue-avec-la-cote-d-ivoire\u002F1681944#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[59,50,93,94,95,65,96,97,66,69,98,71],"326255037997125632","326257536145559552","326222711401484288","326257536078450688","326257536296554496","326257535994564608",[60,51,100,101,102,76,103,104,77,80,105,82],"Strasbourg","Rennes","Belgium","Paris Saint Germain","Auxerre","Nantes","Guéla Doué downs brother's France: Ivorian 2-1 win",{"awayTeamId":108,"awayTeamName":109,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":110,"homeTeamId":111,"homeTeamName":112,"id":113,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":114,"matchName":115,"publishedAt":116,"slug":117,"sourceName":118,"sourceURL":119,"teamId":111,"teamName":112,"teamIds":120,"teamNames":129,"title":138},"326222712622026752","South Africa","Shakira & Burna Boy sing 'Dai Dai' at 2026 World Cup opener June 11 in Mexico City, with J Balvin, Tyla. Buble, Morissette, Perry, Future lead other ceremonies.","326222711908995072","Mexico","338120887364489217","327115024327774208","Mexico vs South Africa","2026-06-04T22:48:54Z","shakira-burna-boy-to-open-2026-world-cup-in-mexico","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc8939ykg3qgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[111,108,121,122,123,71,124,125,126,127,128],"326222712936599552","326222713142120448","326257593007738880","326222713016291328","326257563345620992","326257565195309056","326222711623782400","326257791226351616",[112,109,130,131,132,82,133,134,135,136,137],"Paraguay","Canada","Azteca","USA","Heracles","Barcelona","Colombia","Nigeria","Shakira, Burna Boy to Open 2026 World Cup in Mexico",{"awayTeamId":62,"awayTeamName":73,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":140,"homeTeamId":50,"homeTeamName":51,"id":141,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":142,"matchName":143,"publishedAt":144,"slug":145,"sourceName":57,"sourceURL":146,"teamId":59,"teamName":60,"teamIds":147,"teamNames":155,"title":163},"France lose first friendly under Deschamps, 2-1 to Ivory Coast in Nantes, revealing defensive issues 10 days before World Cup start vs Senegal.","338126221931974657","327115052106649600","France vs Senegal","2026-06-04T22:34:17Z","bleus-lose-friendly-under-deschamps-2-1-to-ivory-coast","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FUne-defaite-ni-vraiment-grave-ni-completement-anodine-pour-les-bleus-a-dix-jours-de-leur-entree-en-scene-au-mondial\u002F1681936#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[59,50,62,98,148,121,65,149,150,151,66,67,152,153,154,71],"326257810885054464","326255039846813696","326255041625198592","326257536413995008","326257545754710016","326257554411753472","326257789708013568",[60,51,73,105,156,130,76,157,158,159,77,78,160,161,162,82],"York","FK Partizan","Partizani","Paris FC","Newcastle","Newcastle Jets","China","Bleus Lose Friendly Under Deschamps: 2-1 to Ivory Coast",{"awayTeamId":45,"awayTeamName":46,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":165,"homeTeamId":50,"homeTeamName":51,"id":166,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":53,"matchName":54,"publishedAt":167,"slug":168,"sourceName":57,"sourceURL":169,"teamId":50,"teamName":51,"teamIds":170,"teamNames":177,"title":184},"Lucas Hernandez: France's 1-2 friendly loss to Ivory Coast is better now than June 16 World Cup opener vs Senegal, with Northern Ireland test next.","338124609578602497","2026-06-04T22:32:57Z","hernandez-france-loss-better-now-than-june-16","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FLucas-hernandez-apres-la-defaite-1-2-de-la-france-contre-la-cote-d-ivoire\u002F1681942#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[50,45,59,62,171,172,64,66,67,68,173,174,175,176],"326257664243798016","326257535885512704","326257565845426176","326257695210344448","326257796423094272","326222712898850816",[51,46,60,73,178,179,75,77,78,79,180,181,182,183],"Northern Ireland","Lille","Mallorca","Signal","Russia","Qatar","Hernandez: France Loss Better Now Than June 16",{"awayScore":186,"awayTeam":187,"description":191,"homeScore":186,"homeTeam":192,"id":53,"kickoffAt":196,"length":197,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueSlug":198,"probabilityLabel":30,"slug":199,"status":200,"tvStations":201,"venueCity":21,"venueName":202},0,{"code":188,"id":45,"imagePath":189,"name":46,"slug":190},"AWY","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F1567.png","iraq","France face Iraq in a World Cup group stage clash where Les Bleus need a win to secure knockout qualification, while Iraq seek a famous upset to keep their own hopes alive. The result will shape the group standings and determine who advances.",{"code":193,"id":50,"imagePath":194,"name":51,"slug":195},"HME","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F2.png","france","2026-06-22T21:00:00Z",90,"world-cup","france-vs-iraq-2026-06-22","scheduled",[],"Lincoln Financial Field"]