France will look to replicate their European Championships success on the global stage as they kick off their campaign in the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a game against debutants New Caledonia here on Sunday.
France and Japan are favourites to qualify for the knockouts from Group E, which also has Honduras, besides New Caledonia.
A winner of the 2001 edition in Trinidad and Tobago, France have competed in only five of the 16 finals, and it is the first time they have qualified for successive editions after getting knocked out in the Round of 16 in 2015, Chile.
The last team to qualify from Europe, France have come well prepared, training with the likes of teams such as Olympique lyon and Paris Saint-Germain.
The players to watch out for, among others, are striker Amine Gouiri, who top scored in the U-17 Euros with eight goals to his name, and his strike partner Yacine Adli.
As far as their opponents are concerned, a population of about 2.70 lakh will make New Caledonia the smallest nation ever to play in a FIFA World Cup.
And coach Dominique Wacalie is keen that the French territory is there not just to make up the numbers.
"Our ambition is to represent our country and our football at the highest level. Our intent is to put in our best and enjoy every moment. We don't want to be spectators. We want to be competitive," Wacalie had told PTI in an interview.
According to Wacalie, his players are typically Oceanian, and "like to play a quick and lively style".
Japan face Honduras test in Group E
Asian giants Japan will eye a positive start when they lock horns with Honduras in the FIFA U-17 World Cup here on Sunday.
In the 2011 edition, they created a flutter by topping a group that included world football heavyweights Argentina, France and Jamaica on their way to the quarterfinals.
They will gain from the fact that they have a very seasoned coach in Yoshiro Moriyama, a former Japan defender who has vast experience playing and coaching in the J-league.
Without an iota of doubt, the player to watch out for is striker Takefusa Kubo. Dubbed as the Japanese Messi, he is the youngest player to score in the J-league and represented Japan at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in May this year.
Another forward, Cerozo Osaka, also has the skills to make an impression.
The South American nation, Honduras have managed to regularly qualify for the tournament since 2007. They were knocked out of the first two editions but managed to reach the quarterfinals in 2013 in the UAE.