Two years ago today, France won the World Cup for the second time in its history, after a masterful final against Croatia (4-2). Two years later, the 23 world champions have known various fortunes, in their club or in selection.

It was July 15, 2018, two years ago today. That afternoon, in the Moscow heat, France strangled Croatia (4-2) to win the second World Cup in its history, and capsize the hearts of the French, 20 years after 1998. Logically, the Blues of Didier Deschamps should have participated in Euro 2020, from June 12 to July 12. But the coronavirus epidemic has passed through there and it will therefore be necessary to wait a year to see the French team engaged in a great international competition.

In the meantime, the anniversary of the French victory in Russia is an opportunity to see what has become of our 23 world champions. And the least we can say is that they have known various fortunes.

Giroud, Dembélé, Hernandez ... They had trouble

Take Adil Rami . The defender, the only field player to have played no minute in Russia, is undoubtedly the one who experienced the most difficult, most winding post-world course. Due in particular to his relationship (since ended) with the American actress Pamela Anderson, he became a celebrity more than a football player, lamented his coach at OM Rudi Garcia. Since then, Rami has had a disastrous experience in Turkey and who is now looking for a new club at 34 years old.

Olivier Giroud , the often disputed striker but who appears in third place of the best scorers in history with the Blues two-unit legend Michel Platini), also struggled with his Chelsea club which he has several times been announced leaving. But since the post-Covid recovery, things have gotten better. It’s even in dazzling form

It was also complicated for Ousmane Dembélé , the Barcelona striker. Long presented as a prodigy, he struggles to live up to the expectations placed in him, especially due to numerous injuries. Lucas Hernandez , holder in the left side during the World Cup, has also been handicapped by injuries since his arrival at Bayern Munich a year ago, and has very little support. 

The stars: Griezmann struggling, Mbappé and Kanté on their way 

The journey was also not entirely obvious for Antoine Griezmann , to a lesser extent. After a good season with Atlético de Madrid, the Blues star has joined Barcelona where he is still looking, more than a year later, to adapt in the bulky shadow of Lionel Messi. Paul Pogba , also a goalscorer in the final, also experienced ups and downs, with long absences from injuries but also very good performances, as in recent weeks with Manchester United. 

In contrast, the other stars have had two quieter years, continuing their momentum. This is the case for example of Ngolo Kanté, still as precious in Chelsea or Kylian Mbappé, top scorer in Ligue 1 the last two seasons with PSG.

Captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris went to the Champions League final last year with Tottenham (lost to Liverpool), but his club has had a complicated Premier League season. Another pillar of the defense of the Blues, Raphaël Varane remains essential to Real Madrid, where he constitutes with Sergio Ramos one of the best pairs of central defenders in the world. 

Kimpembe and Pavard have grown well 

And then in this adventure of 2018, there are these players that the general public has discovered. Presnel Kimpembe never ceases to grow at PSG, where he became a titular defense.

Benjamin Pavard , hero of the match against Argentina with his now famous "bastard hit", had a complicated season with Stuttgart, before shining again with the Bayern Munich jersey, where he impressed by his consistency on his right side .