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France is the most inconsistent side in the world. They had played in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1930. Since then the Les Bleus have played in 13 World Cups so far. They had won the trophy in 1998, which is also known as their golden era. Apart from their 98 glory, France had finished runner up in 2006.
Other notable glories are finishing third twice in 1958 and 1986 and fourth in 1982. Even though France are considered to be the giants of the game, the last decade have proved to be a disaster. Apart from 2006 World Cup France were knocked out of the group stage twice in 2002 and 2010.
Some of the greats of World football have donned the Blue jersey, Zidane, Platini, Henry being few of them. France’s greatest World Cup 11 of all time features most of the players from the nations golden era.
Goalkeeper: Fabien Barthez
Undoubtedly the best goalkeeper in French football history, Fabien Barthez was an integral part of the France national team during the 1998 world Cup triumph, 2002 World Cup and 2006 World Cup. Barthez was instrumental in the 1998 World Cup, conceding just 2 goals in the entire tournament. He had won the Yashin award (Golden glove award presently) in the same World Cup.
No goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets in Fifa World Cup than Fabien Barthez, with only Peter Shilton matching his tally of 10. Not to forget Barthez had only 17 World Cup appearances.
Fabien Barthez had 87 international caps for France in between 1994-2006
Defenders: Marcel Desailly – Lilian Thuram – Laurent Blanc
Marcel Desailly was an important part of the France national team which lifted the World Cup in 1998. Desailly had wore the Les Bleus jersey for a record 116 times which was later bettered by Lilian Thuram and Thierry Henry. Desailly was a stout defender who contributed greatly to France’s double triumph in World Cup 98 and Euro Cup 2000.
Even though he was shown a red card in the 1998 final against Brazil nobody can deny the defender’s role in France’s glory year. After Deschamp’s retirement, Desailly was named the French captain who led France to Confederations cup success in 2001.
Laurent Blanc was the pillar of the French defence at the 1998 World Cup. After announcing his retirement in 1994, Blanc was convinced by the then French manager Aime Jacquet to make a comeback to the national team. He was the cornerstone of the young France team at the World Cup.
Laurent Blanc played brilliantly throughout the tournament and contributed greatly towards the team’s triumph. Unfortunately he was sent-off in the semi final against Croatia. Blanc had appeared in 97 international matches for France scoring 16 goals.
Lilian Thuram is the most capped football player in the history of French player. In a span of 14 years Thuram appeared in 142 international matches. He was an integral part of the French team in the 1998 World cup triumph. Thuram had scored two crucial goals in the World Cup semi-final game against Croatia which helped them to progress to the finals.
Incidentally they were Thuram’s only international goals. He had won the Bronze Ball at that World Cup. In 1998, along With Blanc, Desailly and Lizarazu, Thuram formed the backbone of the French defence.
Midfielders: Claude Makelele - Patrick Vieira - Didier Deschamps – Michel Platini – Zinedine Zidane
Claude Makelele is one of the most underrated midfielders, the world has ever seen. This unsung hero of the French national team was neither a part of the team during 1998 World Cup triumph nor during 2000 Euro Cup victory. With just 33 international caps, Makelele retired from international football in 2004. He was coaxed out of retirement just before the 2006 World Cup, when the national team was in trouble.
He played a crucial role in France’s brilliant performance at the 2006 World Cup as the finished runner up. He again retired after the World Cup but was yet again requested to make a come back after France was performing poorly at the 2008 Euro Cup qualifiers. In 2003, when Makelele was sold by Real Madrid, Zidane had called him as the engine of the Real Madrid side.
Didier Deschamps is the only World Cup winning captain in the French football history. He was a crucial member of the French national team during the golden era. As a defensive midfielder he formed the backbone of the team at the World Cup. He was a stupendous passer and played a pivotal role at the team. Deschamps had earned 103 international caps for France. He is currently the manager of the France team which will take part in the World Cup 2014.
Patrick Vieira was another member of the Golden era of France football. Even though he was relatively a new comer at the 98 World Cup, he was an integral part of the team during the 2000 Euro Cup championship. He played in two more World Cups in 2002 and 2006. After Zidane’s retirement in 2004, Patrick Vieira became the captain of the national team.
It was for him and Lilian Thuram, that Zidane came back from retirement in 2006 and helped France finish runner up at the World Cup. After a terrible performance at the 2010 World Cup Vieira retired from international football. He had played 107 games at the international arena scoring 6 goals.
Michel Platini in his prime days was one of the most gifted footballers of all time. The legendary French midfielder had lead his team to back to back semi final appearances in 1982 and 1986 World Cup. He was at his best at the 1984 European Championship where he had scored nine goals in five games to gift France their first major international title.
At the 1986 World Cup France had defeated a star studded Brazilian team at the quarter finals to reach the semis. Platini had won three Ballon d’Or awards in his entire career and was also chosen as a member of the FIFA World Cup dream team. In 72 international matches, Michel Platini had scored 41 goals.
Zinedine Zidane is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. The French maestro played his debut World Cup in 1998 in which he converted two headers in the World Cup finals against Brazil to win the cup. In no time he became a national hero. He is one of the greatest players ever to don the Les Bleus jersey.
In 2002, he did not play in most of the games due to injury and as a result France delivered a dismal performance and were knocked out of the group stage. He had initially retired from international football in 2004 but was requested to make a come back before the 2006 World Cup. He captained the French national team at the tournament and guided them to the finals.
In the road to finals, he single-handedly won games against teams like, Spain, Brazil and Portugal. Zidane was the first ever player to score in two World Cup finals when he gave the lead against Italy. In the same match he became a part of a controversy which receieved plenty of lime light. He had head butted Italy Marco Materazzi and was red carded. The maestro had played 108 international games scoring 41 goals.
Forwards: Thierry Henry - Just Fontaine
Thierry Henry is one the greatest strikers in French as well as world football. He is the all time highest goal scorer of France, 10 goals more than legendary Michel Platini. With 123 international caps, he is also the second most capped French player behind Lilian Thuram. Even though, Henry was a part of the World Cup winning French team in 1998, he became a part of the starting 11 from the Euro 2000.
He also played in 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups. In 2006, Henry had scored 3 goals among which 1 was the winner against Brazil in the quarter finals. The most controversial incident in Henry’s career was his handling of the ball against Northern Ireland during the play offs of 2010 World Cup. Henry had used his hand to score the winner which helped France to qualify for the final rounds.
Just Fontaine had scored 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup which became a legend. Although Germany’s Gerd Muller and Brazil’s Ronaldo had later broke the record, but it took them two and four World Cups respectively to break that feat.
Till date, Fontaine’s incredible performance at the 1958 World Cup is regarded as the best individual performance at the tournament. His 13 goals included four in a single match against West Germany. In 2003, he was regarded as the greatest French footballers of all time by the French Football association.
You can read the greatest XI of other teams here: FIFA World Cup Greatest XIs
