France

France look to erase World Cup disaster

French national soccer team poses for the traditional picture before the France/Slovenia Euro 2004 qualifier 12 October 2002 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis near Paris. France wins 5-0. Front from L: midfielder Claude Makelele, goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, forward Sylvain Wiltord, forward Steve Marlet, forward Thierry Henry, defender William Gallas. Standing from L : midfielder Zinedine Zidane, midfielder Patrick Vieira, defender Lilian Thuram, defender and captain Marcel Desailly and defender Mikaël Silvestre. AFP PHOTO JACQUES DEMARTHON

Riding high on a wave after winning a first ever World Cup on home soil in 1998, France followed up by winning Euro 2000 to become the first ever nation to hold both trophies.

A memorable side led by Michel Platini had first handed the French a European Championship trophy in 1984, again on home soil.

The Euro 2000 win in Rotterdam though will never be forgotten after Sylvain Wiltord fired home an injury time equaliser before David Trezeguet shattered Italian dreams with a golden goal winner.

But four years later, France go to Portugal to defend their last remaining crown and re-establish their reputation.

Deprived of the injured Zinedine Zidane they were humiliated at the 2002 World Cup in Asia, where they failed to win or even score.

But France have returned to their winning ways under new coach Jacques Santini, who now has the Real Madrid star back at full fitness guiding the team throught a perfect qualifing campaign.

Eight victories from eight matches, a whopping 29 goals for and only two conceded, group rivals Slovenia were left trailing 10 points behind in second after losing 7-0 on aggregate in the two games against the strutting French.

They face a sterner test in their first group match in the finals after the draw threw France in against England, a match coach Jacques Santini described as a 'derby', though their other group rivals Switzerland and Croatia represent a lesser challenge.

Santini restores order

Didier Deschamps and Laurent Blanc have since left the Euro winning side leaving veteran Marcel Desailly to take the captain's armband.

The team boast a dream midfield, with Zidane once again at the height of his powers, playing alongside commanding Patrick Vieira and the unsung Claude Makelele.

The battle for the fourth midfield spot is up for grabs with Arsenal duo Sylvain Wiltord, Robert Pires or AS Roma Olivier Dacourt all fighting for Santini's nod.

In attack, France again are spoiled for choice fielding two world class strikers in Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet while on the bench, Santini can call upon Auxerre marksman Djibril Cisse, Steve Marlet or the rising talent from Lyon, Sydney Govou.

Everything is now in place for another assault on a major crown but a warning to the French is the memory of the 1992 European Championships when Platini guided the team to a perfect record in qualifing only to crash out at the first round hurdle in Sweden.

Factfile on France

Population

60.2 million

Area

549,000 km2

Capital

Paris

Currency

Euro

Federation

Federation Francaise du football (French Football Federation), founded 1919

Affiliated to FIFA

1904

Affiliated to UEFA

1954

Registered players

2,141,239

Colours

Blue shirts, white shorts, red socks

Top clubs

Marseille, Lyon, Monaco, Nantes, Paris Saint Germain

World Cup appearances

11 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002)

World Cup honours

Winner (1998), Third-place (1958, 1986), Fourth place (1982), Quarter-finals (1938)

European Championship appearances

6 (1960, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)

European Championship honours

Winner (1984, 2000), semi-finalists (1960, 1996)

Confederations Cup

Winner (2001, 2003)

How they qualified

Finished top of Group 1 with 24 points (8 wins, 0 draws, 0 defeats, 29 goals for, 2 against), ahead of Slovenia (14pts), Israel (9pts), Cyprus (8pts) and Malta (1pt)

Key players

Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Patrick Vieira, Marcel Desailly

Coach

Jacques Santini