Didier Deschamps’ France has secured a spot in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup by defeating Morocco 2-0. With this result, the French join the exclusive group of national teams to have finished among the top four in three or more consecutive World Cup editions.

Besides Brazil (1994-2002), Germany also reached this milestone on two separate occasions: three consecutive semifinals between 1982 and 1990, and an incredible four times in a row from 2002 to 2014. In other words, France is just one game away from matching Brazil’s historic record: reaching three straight World Cup finals.

And this possibility fuels comparisons between the current Mbappé-led generation and the one spearheaded by Ronaldo over two decades ago. Below, Sofascore News analyzes these two golden eras of world football.

The Brazilian National Team dominated the international scene, reaching the finals of 1994, 1998, and 2002, winning the title twice. A central feature of this historic period was the constant changes in the coaching staff. Brazil reached the three finals led by three different coaches: Carlos Alberto Parreira (1994), Zagallo (1998), and Luiz Felipe Scolari (2002).

Tactically, the Brazilian model combined organization with the outstanding individual skills of its attacking players. In a retroactive data projection within the Sofascore app, the 2002 attacking trio — Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho Gaúcho — would dominate the attacking metrics and heat maps, boasting high expected goals (xG) figures.

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Brazil did not have a strictly defined tactical blueprint between cycles, but always maintained a solid defense. Offensively, the tactics always revolved around creating spaces for the individual talent and refined technical quality of its midfielders and attackers to destabilize opponents.

On the other hand, France built its current run — champions in 2018, runners-up in 2022, and semifinalists in 2026 — always under the guidance of Didier Deschamps, who was a champion in 1998 as a player, beating Brazil in the final.

The Bleus showcase an unprecedented longevity in their playing system. In this edition of the tournament, the team won every match in regulation time, demonstrating absolute control on the pitch. Kylian Mbappé leads the team lethally, achieving sky-high ratings in the knockouts and paving his way as one of the competition’s all-time top scorers.

Unlike Brazil’s rotation among different managers, France maintains a linear and predictable tactical structure, but one that is nearly impenetrable. Deschamps’ system positions itself well defensively, with compact blocks and swift transitions. They always dictate the pace of the match with a midfield that is technically gifted and, above all, physically strong.

It’s never easy to compare generations that never actually faced each other. But if France advances to the final on July 19th, 2026, the debate over the greatest recent generation will transcend nostalgia and carry the undeniable weight of data.

Deschamps’ accomplishment—staying in charge for over a decade and constantly evolving the level of excellence—will stand as the great long-term counterpoint to the three finals achieved by the brilliance and talent of the Brazilian national teams managed by Parreira, Zagallo, and Scolari.