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Report by TRIBUNFLORES.COM Reporter, Albert Aquinaldo

TRIBUNFLORES.COM, ENDE – The living legend of Perse Ende, Maros Fersando, has backed the French national team to go all the way and lift the trophy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by three North American countries.

The former Perse Ende midfield powerhouse, who also played for several major clubs in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), believes that France's winning tradition and strong mentality make them perennial favourites in every edition of the World Cup.

According to Maros, Les Bleus possess what he calls a “semifinal DNA,” which enables them to consistently perform well in the world’s biggest football tournament.

“This time, I’m backing France in the World Cup because they have that semifinal DNA,” Maros said in an interview with TribunFlores.com on Thursday (4 June 2026).

The avid supporter of Ousmane Dembélé, who currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), expressed confidence that France can reach the tournament’s final stage.

He even predicted that Les Bleus, popularly known as the Roosters, will face Germany in the championship match.

“I hope France can make it to the final. I have a feeling they’ll meet Germany,” Maros added.

France remains one of the global powerhouses in football. The team, nicknamed Les Bleus, has won the World Cup twice — first in 1998 as hosts and again in 2018 in Russia.

In the 2026 World Cup, France has been drawn in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.

With the quality of players they currently have, many analysts believe France has a strong chance to progress from the group stage as one of the top seeds.

The French squad features several players in peak form. PSG’s dominance is evident, with five of its players included in coach Didier Deschamps’ 26-man roster.

Deschamps has assembled the nation’s best talents to compete in the prestigious tournament, held every four years.

In attack, France boasts a blend of experienced stars and emerging young talents from Europe’s elite leagues.

Players like Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Désiré Doué (PSG), and Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) are seen as the new generation capable of adding firepower to Les Bleus’ front line.

In midfield, veteran N’Golo Kanté remains a key figure, serving as the team’s engine. The experienced midfielder, now playing for Fenerbahce, is expected to bridge the gap between the younger and older players in the squad.

To strengthen the defence, Deschamps has called up nine defenders. Among the notable names are Malo Gusto (Chelsea), William Saliba (Arsenal), and Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool).

Between the posts, France will rely on Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba, and Robin Risser as their goalkeeping options.

With a well-balanced squad across all positions and a mix of youth and experience, France once again stands out as one of the tournament favourites to make a deep run in the 2026 World Cup.

Support continues to pour in, including from Perse Ende legend Maros Fersando, who firmly believes Les Bleus can once again relive their glory days on the world football stage.