1800-WorldCup.com - France at France 1998

Index: World Cup Finals: France 1998: France

France in the World Cup Finals

World Cup Appearances:
France 1998 was France's 10th appearance in the World Cup Finals.

Best World Cup Performance:
France reached the semi-finals in Sweden 1958, Spain 1982, and Mexico 1986.

In 1984 they won the European Championships on home soil, and their supporters expected them to win the World Cup at home too.

France in the 1998 World Cup

Group C

12th June: vs. South Africa (3:0) in Marseilles.

18th June: vs. Saudi Arabia (4:0) in Saint-Denis.

24th June: vs. Denmark (2:1) in Lyon.

Knockout Stage

2nd Round
24th June: vs. Paraguay (1:0 aet) in Lens.

After coasting through the first round, France had a nervous 113 minutes before Laurent Blanc finally beat Chilavert for a 1/4 final game against Italy.

1/4 Finals
3rd July: vs. Italy (0:0 aet) in Saint-Denis.

The goals dried up completely in the quarter-final, against Italy, but the hosts scored more penalties.

1/2 Finals
8th July: vs. Croatia (2:1) in Saint-Denis.

Zidane spearheaded the semi-final assault on Croatia and although he failed to score Thuram did twice, to Suker's one, and booked the hosts a place in the final against the World Champions.

France 1998 World Cup Final
12th July: vs. Brazil (0:3) in Saint-Denis.

Aime Jacquet could finally take his jacket off and loosen his tie on the Champs Élysées as France paraded the World Cup to the home supporters.

France World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers:

1 Bernard Lama (West Ham United)
16 Fabien Barthez (Monaco)
22 Lionel Charbonnier (Auxerre)

Defenders:

2 Vincent Candela (Roma)
3 Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich)
5 Laurent Blanc (Marseilles)
8 Marcel Desailly (AC Milan)
15 Lilian Thuram (Parma)
18 Frank Leboeuf (Chelsea)

Midfielders:

4 Patrick Vieira (Arsenal)
6 Youri Djorkaeff (Inter Milan)
7 Didier Deschamps (Juventus)
11 Robert Pires (Metz)
13 Bernard Diomede (Auxerre)
10 Zinedine Zidane (Juventus)
14 Alain Boghossian (Sampdoria)
17 Emmanuel Petit (Arsenal)
19 Christian Karembeu (Real Madrid)

Forwards:

9 Stephane Guivarc'h (Auxerre)
12 Thierry Henry (Monaco)
20 David Trezeguet (Monaco)
21 Christophe Dugarry (Marseille)

Trainer:
Aime Jacquet.

Destination France

France Travel Notes:
Find out more about France @ Travel Notes.