Coach: Raymond Domenech

Star Players: Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira

Tournament Best: Winners 1998

Last Time: Group Stage

Qualifying: Top of European Group 4

Top Scorer In Qualifying: Djibril Cisse 4

France have struggled to recapture the form that won them the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

The last World Cup was an embarrassment as they failed to score a single goal and went out in the group stage, losing to Denmark and Senegal in the process.

The complacency of 2002 has gone but France are still to recapture their best form and Zinedine Zidane, Lillian Thuram and Claude Makelele have subsequently come out of international retirement.

France still have an excellent chance of success in Germany. Thierry Henry will surely be keen to transfer his astonishing Premiership form onto the international stage.

Patrick Vieira and Makelele form the most intimidating midfield partnership at the World Cup, and the old master Zidane will be out to add one last moment of glory to a career littered with them.

Group G should pose no problems for France, but whether they go far in the competition after that will depend on whether the older players still have what it takes to beat the world's best.