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France national football team

The France national football team made their first ever appearance in a 3-3 draw with Belgium in 1904. The game was dubbed the Evence Coppee trophy, named after the man who had organised the fixture in the framework of the Franco-Belgian relations, and was the start of a long and rocky road for the French national football team. Les Bleus have, perhaps surprisingly considering their widely-held status as a major international force in football, enjoyed only sporadic success at the World Cup.

The French team has a history veering from (often unexpected) success to crippling underachievement, the latter characterised in recent years by petty squabbles and divisions within the squad. When things do go well for France, though, they can be a devastating force. Typically, their successes are galvanised by one outstanding talent; the likes of Just Fontaine, Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane. Despite their shortcomings, France remains one of the illustrious seven nations to have lifted the World Cup trophy, after they won it as hosts in 1998.

World cup history

1930
1934
1938
1954
1958
1966
1978
1982
1986
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
1930

Uruguay

France took part in the inaugural World Cup in 1930; one of only four European teams to do so along with Belgium, Romania and Yugoslavia. Participation was decided not by qualification, but by invite, and due to the long trip across the Atlantic and the amount of time away from the domestic calendar few European teams showed interest. France, though, decided to take part and were drawn into the only group with four teams, alongside Argentina, Chile and Mexico. France beat Mexico 4-1 but in the next match weren’t so lucky. Up against group favourites Argentina (who had been seeded in the draw) they lost 1-0. There was controversy when referee Almeida Rego erroneously blew the full time whistle six minutes early, play only continuing at the behest of the outraged French team, but the extra time was not enough to stop the South American side. Another defeat against Chile in their final group game meant that France were knocked out; with Argentina progressing to the semi-finals.

1934

Italy

The France national football team were present at the second World Cup, this time hosted much closer to home in Italy. With there being 32 teams, the competition was organised as a straight knockout, but France once again fell at the first hurdle, defeated 3-2 by Austria in the opening round. 20,000 people packed into the then-named Stadio Benito Mussolini in Turin.

1938

France

France saw off competition from Germany and Argentina to earn the right to host the third World Cup. This decision caused much dissatisfaction from South America, Uruguay and Argentina refusing to attend having believed the tournament would alternate between European and South American hosts. The France national football team, as hosts, qualified automatically, along with holders Italy; this was the first time that this rule had been applied. France eased through the first round, defeating Belgium 3-1 in Paris. France’s home advantage could not carry them past their next opponent, Italy. In front of a bumper 60,000-strong crowd, France succumbed to a 3-1 defeat. Italy would go on to beat Hungary 4-2 in the final to retain their title. The outbreak of the Second World War meant that this would be the last World Cup for 12 years.

1954

Switzerland 

The France national football team were involved once again as the World Cup returned to Europe in 1954. As a seeded team for the first time, France were given a great advantage. They were drawn into a group with Brazil, Yugoslavia and Mexico, but as a seed only played the latter two – a departure from the classic ‘Round Robin’ group style. However, France failed to make this advantage count, as they narrowly lost to Yugoslavia 1-0 in their opening game. A salvaged win against Mexico in their only other group game was not enough to prevent Yugoslavia and Brazil from progressing to the next round.

1958

Sweden

It was not until Sweden in 1958 that France made their first real impact on a World Cup finals tournament. Once again qualifying without difficulty, the French were drawn in a group with their nemeses from the last tournament, Yugoslavia, as well as Paraguay and Scotland. France  thrashed Paraguay 7-2, and beat Scotland 2-1. Although they lost to Yugoslavia 3-2, France’s high goal average meant that they topped the group. In the next round France battered Northern Ireland 4-0, but were then undone by an 18-year-old Pele, who scored a hat-trick to help eventual winners Brazil to a 5-2 victory. France rounded off their campaign with another impressive performance, beating West Germany 6-3 to win the third place play-off.

1966

England

Having failed to qualify for Chile in 1962, France’s first appearance after their third place finish was in England in 1966. France were drawn into a tough group with the hosts, two-time winners Uruguay and Mexico. France managed a 1-1 draw against the Mexicans in their opening game, but that was to be their only joy as they were defeated 2-1 by Uruguay and 2-0 by England, finishing rock bottom of the group.

1978

Argentina

A rejuvenated France national football team were unable to make a lasting mark on the Argentina 1978 finals. Narrow losses to group favourites Italy (2-1) and hosts Argentina (2-1), whose teams featured the likes of Dino Zoff, Paolo Rossi, Ozzie Ardilles and Mario Kempes, meant that a 3-1 win over Hungary was not enough to progress from the group.

1982

Spain

The French national side for Spain in 1982 was built around the ‘Magic Square’, comprised of four playes; Jean Tigana, Platini, Giresse, and Genghini. The formation was undone by England in France’s opening group game who inflicted a 3-1 defeat. France responded with a 4-1 domination of Kuwait and a crucial 1-1 draw with Czechoslovakia to ensure that they progressed as group runners up.In a change to previous World Cups, there was a second group stage, and France received a favourable draw with Northern Ireland and Austria. Genghini scored as France beat the Austrians 1-0, while Giresse and Dominique Rocheteau grabbed two apiece in a 4-1 win over Northern Ireland. As widely expected, France won the group and set up a semi-final clash with West Germany. Aside from the football the game was memorable for German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher knocking defender Patrick Battiston unconscious in the 57th minute following an attempt at a save. Battiston suffered a damaged vertebra, lost teeth, and later fell into a coma. Despite the extensiveness of the injury, the referee did not call a penalty or even penalise Schumacher, much to the fury of the French. France eventually lost the game on penalties, and also the third place play-off 3-2 to Poland.

1986

Mexico

The France national football team arrived in Mexico as favourites, having claimed their first major international trophy in the 1984 European Championships and also boasting Michel Platini, who had won three consecutive Ballon D’Or trophies between 1983 and 1985. The tournament featured  a return to the old group system; this time France qualifying from the group stage with relative ease, after beating Canada 1-0, Hungary 3-0 and earning a 1-1 draw with the Soviet Union. Platini scored in a 2-0 win over Italy in the first knock-out round, and was on the score sheet again in the next round with the equaliser as France drew 1-1 with Brazil, eventually winning on penalties. Platini and his teammates could do nothing to prevent another consecutive semi-final defeat to now fierce rivals West Germany, this time by a score of 2-0. They did claim victory in the third place play-off with a 4-2 win over Belgium.

1998

France

The most significant moment in France’s World Cup history came on their own patch, as France finally lifted the World Cup in 1998. Having qualified automatically as hosts, France were drawn into a favourable group with Denmark, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, where they secured the maximum nine points and scored nine goals. France were a little more shaky in the knock-out stages, requiring an extra-time goal from Laurent Blanc to beat Paraguay and a penalty shoot-out win over Italy the following round. But crucuially, the team were not conceding which gave them a strong platform to build on, regardless of the opponent. A semi-final win over surprise package Croatia was enough to overcome their jinx and reach the final of the World Cup for the first time. It was another capacity crowd at the Stade de France for the final against Brazil, and as to be expected, the home support was a crucial factor. Zinedine Zidane was  instrumental in a surprisingly convincing 3-0 win, scoring twice before Emmanuel Petit wrapped it up in stoppage time.

2002

Japan and South Korea

Buoyed by their victory on home soil and a European Championship victory in between, France were many punters’ favourites to repeat their successes as the World Cup travelled to Asia for the first time. They could not be more wrong. In the opening game of the tournament, the world watched on in disbelief as France fell to a 1-0 defeat to lowly Senegal. Things were to go from bad to worse for the French, who were stifled in a 0-0 draw with Uruguay, followed by another surprise loss to Denmark.

2006

Germany

Zinedine Zidane returned to his catalytic best in his swansong for the national side, leading them to the final of the 2006 tournament. However, his tournament will go down in memory for his bizarre and violent sending off as his team fell at the final hurdle. The French stuttered out of their group. They drew 0-0 with Switzerland and 1-1 with South Korea, only a 2-0 win over Togo allowing them to scrape through as runners up. But, in the knock-out stages, France really came into their own. France came from behind to beat Spain, then considered perennial underachievers, 3-0 with late goals from Patrick Vieira and Zidane. In the Quarter Finals, Theirry Henry scored a glancing header as the French beat reigning champions Brazil 1-0 in true smash-and-grab fashion. They then beat Portugal by the same scoreline, Zidane scoring from the penalty spot in a tight affair. It was the final, though, that will be forever remembered. Zidane gave France an early lead with a cheeky chipped penalty in the 7th minute, after Marco Materazzi had concede the foul. Materazzi was not disheartened, and replied with the equaliser before half time, heading in from a corner. The score remained 1-1 and the game entered extra time. It was to be the two goalscorers involved in the game’s real talking point. Following some form of aggravation from the Italian, the red mist descended on Zidane, and he head butted his opponent in the chest. No hesitation from the referee; Zidane was sent off. Though 10-man France held on for penalties, it was to be Italy’s day.

2010

South Africa

Following a dismal showing at Euro 2008 in which France failed to win a game, much pressure was on long-serving coach Raymond Domenech to inspire some success from the French in South Africa. This was not to be the case in an awful tournament for the French which was marred by divisions within the team and an incredible training boycott by the players. France had earned a point in a dour 0-0 draw with Uruguay, before an even worse 2-0 defeat to Mexico. France lost their last group game 2-1 to hosts South Africa and crashed out of the tournament in disgrace.

2014

Brazil

The world cup in 2014 was held in Brazil. Germany became the first European side to win the competition on South American soil. The France national football team began strongly with a 3-0 win over Honduras. They followed this up with a 5-2 victory over Switzerland. A 0-0 draw with Ecuador meant the side topped the group. In the last 16 the side comfortably overcame Nigeria, although they did leave it until the last 15 minutes to score both their goals in the 2-0 win. The run derailed in the quarter final but it was to eventual champions Germany. One goal was the difference as the side were eliminated 1-0. In the game the side had chances, with many feeling a more attacking approach could have seen them through.

2018

Russia

The France national football team have been drawn in Group A alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus, and Luxembourg.

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