Wenger votes in favour of France

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes France are the favourites to win the World Cup despite “enormous mistakes” in the way they prepared for the competition by staging friendlies in remote countries.

Wenger, who led Arsenal to their second English Premier League and Cup double in five years thanks to a strong French contingent, has been at odds with the French federation all season about releasing his players for internationals.

In an interview with the Sports daily L’Equipe on Monday, he repeated his criticism about France’s trips to Chile and Australia this season. “I hope France will not pay the price for it. But I’m a little afraid they will,” he said. “It was an enormous mistake of schedule, those games in Chile and Australia.”

Wenger, who was once named as a possible choice for the France job, has instead been giving some advice to England ahead of the finals starting at the end of the month. He spent almost two years in Japan at Nagoya Grampus Eight. “The problem is that France are World champions and nobody feels the right or courage to say anything, even when it’s just a matter of common sense,” he insisted.

“I simply mean that it’s not helping France to say nothing or to behave this way without daring any criticism. “If France do not win the World Cup, I will be there to defend them. I’m not sure it will be the case for people who stood by the federation,” he added. But Wenger said he remained “a big fan of Les Bleus”.

France’s trips to Chile and Australia late last year led clubs with French internationals to complain that the long journeys would leave their players exhausted.

Wenger warned that clubs were campaigning strongly behind the scene to defend their interests at the expense of national teams.

“Clubs are gearing up for a big movement against national squads. They want to hit hard and have the rules changed,” he said.

But in spite of his tense relationship with officials from his native country, Wenger still believes the current World and European champions have the best chance.

Asked about his favourites, he said: “France and Brazil. Brazil are underestimated, they will have a great team. “Overall, France still have the best players. Just behind France and Brazil I put Italy.

“Argentina, I don’t believe in them, they’re too weak at the back and lack power up front,” he said.

Wenger is not overconfident either about England’s chances.

“I see them as outsiders,” he said.

But he added: “If they make it out of the group with Sweden, Argentina and Nigeria, they can find a faith that would make them dangerous.”