Team profile: France
Star midfielder Zinedine Zidane will aim to end his career on the highest of notes, whether his support cast can stick to the script remains to be seen. Striker Thierry Henry is in sparkling form, but few of the other ‘Les Bleus’ superstars seem even close to being at their best.
FIFA Ranking: 8
Coach: Raymond Domenech
Key players: Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet
World Cup record: 11th appearance
Best Finish: Champion 1998
Last appearance: First round 2002
Qualifying route: Won European Group 4
Key question: After the disastrous World Cup defence, can the ageing legs relive their glory days?
Squad:
Goalkeepers | # |
Mickael Landreau | 1 |
Fabien Barthez | 16 |
Gregory Coupet | 23 |
Defenders | |
Jean-Alain Boumsong | 2 |
Eric Abidal | 3 |
William Gallas | 5 |
Mikael Silvestre | 13 |
Lilian Thuram | 15 |
Gael Givet | 17 |
Willy Sagnol | 19 |
Pascal Chimbonda | 21 |
Midfielders | |
Patrick Viera | 4 |
Claude Makalele | 6 |
Florent Malouda | 7 |
Vikash Dhorasoo | 8 |
Zinedine Zidane | 10 |
Alou Diarra | 18 |
Franck Ribery | 22 |
Forwards | |
Djibril Cisse | 9 |
Sylvain Wiltord | 11 |
Thierry Henry | 12 |
Louis Saha | 14 |
David Trezeguet | 20 |
Group matches:
v Switzerland, 16:00 GMT, Tuesday 13th June – Stuttgart
v Korea Republic, 19:00 GMT, Sunday 18th June – Leipzig
v Togo, 19:00 GMT, Friday 23rd June – Cologne