FRANCE TEAM PROFILE : Champions in buoyant mood

The defending champions, France will be hoping that their performance in Portugal is a repeat of that in UEFA EURO 2000™ - and not the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, when they departed without scoring a single goal.

Easy qualification
If they reproduce the form that enabled them to qualify from Group 1, though, then another trophy could be within their grasp. Drawn with Slovenia, Israel, Cyprus and Malta, they proved as superior to their opponents on grass as they had appeared on paper, and clinched first place without dropping a point.

World-class talent
As star-studded as any team in Portugal, France are in the enviable position of being able to leave world-class talent on the bench. They have even been able to thrive after the international retirements of Franck Leboeuf, Youri Djorkaeff, Christophe Dugarry and Emmanuel Petit.

Strong defence
Fabien Barthez in goal is constantly challenged by the highly-rated Grégory Coupet, while the first-choice defence of Lilian Thuram, captain Marcel Desailly - who has won more than 100 caps - Mikaël Silvestre and Bixente Lizarazu has AJ Auxerre duo Jean-Alain Boumsong and Philippe Mexès among its back-up.

Tactical options
Further forward, France's embarrassment of riches gives coach Jacques Santini a number of tactical options - he can play a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2. Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira and Olivier Dacourt are masters in the holding positions behind Zinedine Zidane, who plays in a more central role than he does at Real Madrid CF. Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord can be called upon to provide width, although Zidane's free role means he too spends much time on the flanks.

Powerful strike force
Unlike when they won the 1998 World Cup, France can also now count on striking talent at the height of their powers with Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet the usual choices. Henry plays Arsenal FC with Vieira, Pires and Wiltord and Trezeguet at Juventus FC alongside Thuram. Steve Marlet and another rising star from Auxerre, Djibril Cissé, are also in the frame.

Superb run
It is one thing to have that abundance of talent, but it is the way they have gelled since the disappointment of Korea/Japan that have made France strong candidates to retain the UEFA European Championship. Scoring 16 goals without reply in their first three home qualifiers against Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus, and ten with only one conceded in the four Group 1 away wins is proof of that, as is their impressive victory as hosts in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, maintaining a 100 per cent record over five fixtures despite fielding a weakened side.

Coach takes credit
The credit for this can go in no small part to Santini, who took over the team from Roger Lemerre in 2002 with morale at a low ebb. His side have proved able to overwhelm opponents through sheer skill - Zidane is still the pivotal figure he has been for several years, but their attacking thrust is even greater than that shown in 1998 or even 2000.

Competitive edge
Even the fact that they have not automatically qualified - unlike in 2002 - could count in their favour, as some observers believe France went into Korea/Japan lacking competitive edge despite their confidence. Their qualifying performances this time around has kept them in the habit of playing - and winning - serious internationals.

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