kids encyclopedia robot

France national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see France women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
France
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Les Bleus (The Blues)
Association Fédération Française de Football (FFF)
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Didier Deschamps
Captain Kylian Mbappé
Most caps Hugo Lloris (145)
Top scorer Olivier Giroud (57)
Home stadium Stade de France
FIFA code FRA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 2 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 1 (May 2001 – May 2002, August–September 2018)
Lowest 26 (September 2010)
Elo ranking
Current 2 Increase 3 (3 March 2019)
Highest 1 (1984–1985, 1986, 1998–1999, 2000–2002, 2003–2004, 2006, 2007, 2018)
Lowest 40 (March–July 1930)
First international
 Belgium 3–3 France 
(Uccle, Belgium; 1 May 1904)
Biggest win
 France 14–0 Gibraltar 
(Nice, France; 18 November 2023)
Biggest defeat
 Denmark 17–1 France 
(London, England; 22 October 1908)
World Cup
Appearances 16 (first in 1930)
Best result Champions (1998, 2018)
European Championship
Appearances 11 (first in 1960)
Best result Champions (1984, 2000)
Nations League Finals
Appearances 1 (first in 2021)
Best result Champions (2021)
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Appearances 1 (first in 1985)
Best result Champions (1985)
Confederations Cup
Appearances 2 (first in 2001)
Best result Champions (2001, 2003)
Medal record
Men's football
FIFA World Cup
Gold 1998 France Team
Gold 2018 Russia Team
Silver 2006 Germany Team
Silver 2022 Qatar Team
Bronze 1958 Sweden Team
Bronze 1986 Mexico Team
UEFA European Championship
Gold 1984 France Team
Gold 2000 Belgium–Netherlands Team
Silver 2016 France Team
UEFA Nations League
Gold 2021 Italy Team
FIFA Confederations Cup
Gold 2001 South Korea–Japan Team
Gold 2003 France Team
Olympic Games
Gold 1984 Los Angeles Team
Silver 1900 Paris Team
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Gold 1985 Paris Team

The France national football team (also known as French: Équipe de France de football) plays for France in men's international football matches. The team is managed by the French Football Federation (FFF), which is the main group for football in France. They are part of UEFA in Europe and FIFA globally.

The team's colors and symbols come from French national symbols: the blue-white-red flag and the Gallic rooster. People often call the team Les Bleus (The Blues). They play their home games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. They train at the National Football Centre in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines.

The team started in 1904. Since then, they have won many major titles. These include two FIFA World Cups, two UEFA European Championships, one CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, two FIFA Confederations Cups, and one UEFA Nations League title. France was one of the first four European teams to play in the first World Cup in 1930.

France has had great success in different periods. In the 1980s, with Michel Platini, they won Euro 1984. This was their first big title. They also won a CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup in 1985. They reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1982 and 1986.

Later, with Didier Deschamps as captain and Zinedine Zidane playing, Les Bleus won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. They also won the Confederations Cup in 2001 and 2003. In 2006, France reached the World Cup final but lost to Italy in a penalty shootout.

A decade later, France made it to the final of Euro 2016. They lost to Portugal. Two years later, France won the 2018 World Cup. This was their second World Cup title. After winning the 2021 Nations League, they became the first European team to win every major FIFA and UEFA competition. In 2022, France reached another World Cup final but lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout.

France is one of only two countries, along with Brazil, to have won all men's FIFA 11-player competitions at all age levels. This includes the FIFA World Cup, FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup, the old FIFA Confederations Cup, and the Olympic title. France was the first to achieve this complete collection in 2013.

France has football rivalries with teams like Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. A strong rivalry with Argentina has also grown recently.

History of the France National Football Team

Main article: History of the France national football team

Early Years (1900–1930s)

France national football 1904
France national team that played its first international game against Belgium in 1904.

The France national football team started in 1904, around when FIFA was founded. Their first official international match was on May 1, 1904, against Belgium in Brussels. The game ended in a 3–3 draw. The next year, on February 12, 1905, France played their first home game against Switzerland. They won 1–0 at the Parc des Princes.

In July 1930, France played in the first-ever FIFA World Cup in Uruguay. In their first World Cup match, France beat Mexico 4–1. Lucien Laurent scored the first goal in World Cup history. France was also the first team not to score in a World Cup match when they lost 1–0 to Argentina. They were knocked out in the group stage after another loss to Chile.

In 1934, France was eliminated in the first round of the World Cup, losing 3–2 to Austria. France hosted the 1938 World Cup and reached the quarter-finals, where they lost 3–1 to Italy.

Golden Era and Challenges (1950s–1980s)

France's first "Golden Generation" in the late 1950s included players like Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopa. At the 1958 World Cup, France reached the semi-finals, losing to Brazil. In the third-place match, France beat West Germany 6–3. Fontaine scored four goals in that game, making his total 13 goals for the tournament, which is still a World Cup record today.

France hosted the first UEFA European Football Championship in 1960. They reached the semi-finals again but lost to Yugoslavia. The 1960s and 1970s were harder times for France. They often failed to qualify for big tournaments.

Under coach Michel Hidalgo, France became strong again. Players like Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse, and Luis Fernández formed a group called the "Magic Square." They were very good at attacking. At the 1982 World Cup, France reached the semi-finals but lost to West Germany in a penalty shootout. This game is remembered as one of the greatest World Cup matches.

Two years later, France won their first major international trophy, Euro 1984, which they hosted. Platini scored nine goals in the tournament, a record. France beat Spain 2–0 in the final. After this win, Hidalgo left, and Henri Michel took over. France then won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics football tournament. A year later, they won the Artemio Franchi Trophy by beating Uruguay 2–0. This trophy was a bit like an early version of the FIFA Confederations Cup.

In 1988, the FFF opened the Clairefontaine National Football Institute. Michel Platini became manager but could not get the team to the 1990 World Cup.

Zidane Era and World Champions (1996–2006)

Under Gerard Houllier, France failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. This was a big disappointment. His assistant, Aimé Jacquet, became the new manager.

France starting line-up against Brazil at the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, a match they won 3–0

Under Jacquet, the team became very successful. They had experienced players and new talents like Zinedine Zidane. They reached the semi-finals of Euro 1996. The team's next big tournament was the 1998 World Cup, which France hosted. France won the tournament without losing a single game. They beat Brazil 3–0 in the final at the Stade de France in Paris.

After the World Cup win, Jacquet stepped down. His assistant, Roger Lemerre, took over and led them to win Euro 2000. With Zidane as a key player, France beat Italy 2–1 in the final. This win meant France held both the World Cup and Euro titles at the same time, which was a rare achievement. After this, France became the number one team in the FIFA World Rankings. The next year, they won the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Zinedine zidane wcf 2006-edit
Zinedine Zidane was captain for France at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

However, France did not do as well in the next tournaments. They were knocked out in the group stage at the 2002 World Cup. They lost 1–0 to new team Senegal in their first game. France became only the second defending champion to be eliminated in the first round. After this, Lemerre was replaced by Jacques Santini. At Euro 2004, France was upset by eventual winners Greece in the quarter-finals.

Raymond Domenech became the new coach. France struggled at first in the qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup. Some older players were asked to return to the team to help them qualify, which they did. In the 2006 World Cup, France reached the final, beating Spain, Brazil, and Portugal. They played Italy in the final. The game ended 1–1 after extra time, and Italy won 5–3 on penalties. This was Zidane's last game before he retired.

France national football team 2006
The French team in front of fans in 2006

Challenges and Rebuilding (2007–2015)

France qualified for Euro 2008 but performed poorly in the tournament. They finished last in their group. The 2010 World Cup also started badly for France. They struggled and eventually qualified after a play-off against the Republic of Ireland.

At the 2010 World Cup, the team did not meet expectations and was eliminated in the group stage. There were some problems within the team during the competition. After the World Cup, Laurent Blanc became the new coach. He decided to suspend all 23 players from the World Cup squad for a friendly match. Some players received bans for their roles in the issues.

At Euro 2012, France reached the quarter-finals but lost to Spain. After this, Laurent Blanc resigned. Didier Deschamps, who had captained France to their 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 wins, became the new coach. His team qualified for the 2014 World Cup. At the 2014 World Cup, France lost to eventual champions Germany in the quarter-finals.

New Success (2016–Present)

France automatically qualified as hosts for Euro 2016. They reached the final, beating Ireland and Iceland, and then Germany 2–0. This was their first win against Germany in a major tournament since 1958. However, France lost 1–0 to Portugal in the final after extra time.

France starting line-up against Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, a match they won 4–2

At the 2018 World Cup, France topped their group. They then beat Argentina 4–3 in an exciting game. They also defeated Uruguay 2–0 to reach the semi-finals. There, they beat Belgium 1–0. On July 15, France beat Croatia 4–2 in the final to win their second World Cup title.

UEFA Euro 2020 was moved to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At Euro 2020, France finished first in a tough group with Germany, Portugal, and Hungary. However, they were knocked out by Switzerland in the round of 16 after a 3–3 draw and a penalty shootout loss. France then went on to win the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League. They beat Spain 2–1 in the final to win their first Nations League title.

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, France tried to defend their title. They reached a second straight World Cup final, beating Poland, England, and Morocco. But they lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3–3 draw.

France qualified for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany. They reached the semi-finals but were defeated by Spain 2–1.

Home Stadiums for France Football

Main articles: Stade de France, Parc des Princes, and INF Clairefontaine

In the early days, France's main stadiums were the Parc des Princes in Paris and the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes. They also played some games at other smaller stadiums. Over time, France started playing matches outside Paris in cities like Nantes, Marseille, Lyon, and Strasbourg.

StadeFranceNationsLeague2018
Stade de France

After the Parc des Princes was updated in 1972, it became the main stadium in Paris. France then used it regularly for home games. However, they still played friendly matches and smaller qualification games at other venues. France has also played home matches in its overseas territories twice.

In 1998, the Stade de France became France's national stadium before the 1998 World Cup. It is in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris, and can hold 81,338 people. France's first game there was on January 28, 1998, against Spain. France won 1–0, with Zinedine Zidane scoring the goal. Since then, France has used this stadium for almost all their important home games, including the 1998 World Cup final.

Before matches, the national team trains at the INF Clairefontaine academy in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines. Clairefontaine is a national football training center. It opened in 1988 and became famous when the team that won the 1998 World Cup used it as their base.

Team Image and Identity

Media Coverage

The France national team has agreements with TV channels like TF1 and M6 to show their games. These channels broadcast friendly matches and international games. This helps fans watch the team play.

Kits and Crest

France football 1900
USFSA team that represented France at the 1900 Summer Olympics, wearing a white shirt with the rings emblem. That shirt was also worn in the first international v Belgium in 1904.

The France national team uses a blue, white, and red color scheme. These colors come from the French flag, known as the tricolore. The very first France shirt, worn in 1904, was white with a special emblem.

France usually wears blue shirts, white shorts, and red socks at home. When they play away, they often wear all white, or white shirts and socks with blue shorts. In a 1978 World Cup match, both teams had white kits, so France had to borrow green-and-white striped shirts from a local club!

Zidane-France-2006-home-shirt
France's Zinedine Zidane number 10 home shirt, made by Adidas.

From 1966 to 1971, Le Coq Sportif made France's shirts. In 1972, France started working with the German sports company Adidas. For 38 years, France won many titles, including Euro 1984, the 1998 World Cup, and Euro 2000, while wearing Adidas kits. In 2008, the French Football Federation announced they would switch to Nike starting in 2011. This was a very big deal, making France's blue shirt one of the most expensive sponsorships in football history.

Maillots de la France à l'Euro 2016
Nike-made France merchandise on display for UEFA Euro 2016.

The first Nike kit for France was for Euro 2012, which was dark blue with gold accents. For Euro 2016, Nike made a new kit with blue shirts and shorts, red socks at home, and white shirts and shorts with blue socks away.

Kit Sponsorship History

Kit supplier Period Notes
France Allen Sport 1938–1966
France Le Coq Sportif 1966–1971
Germany Adidas 1972–2010
United States Nike 2011–present

Nickname

France is often called Les Bleus (The Blues) by fans and the media. This nickname is used for all French international sports teams because they all wear blue shirts. The team is also sometimes called Les Tricolores or L'Equipe Tricolore (The Tri-color Team) because of their use of blue, white, and red.

In the 1980s, France was nicknamed the "Brazilians of Europe." This was because of their exciting, skillful, and attacking style of play, led by players like Michel Platini. Even though they focus on offense, France's defense is also known for being very strong and technical. Their defense was key to winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup, earning them the name "Mur de fer" ("The Iron Wall").

Recent Matches and Future Games

Main article: France national football team results
Further information: France national football team results (2020–present)
Further information: 2023–24 in French football and 2024–25 in French football

Here are the results from the last 12 months and any upcoming matches.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

2025 Upcoming Matches

Coaching Staff

Didier Deschamps in 2018
Didier Deschamps, the current coach of the France national football team.

As of March 2024.

Position Name
Head coach France Didier Deschamps
Assistant coach France Guy Stéphan
Goalkeeper coach France Franck Raviot
Fitness coach France Cyril Moine
Doctor France Franck Le Gall
Video analysts France Thierry Marszalek
France Eric Dubray
Osteopath France Jean-Yves Vandewalle
Physiotherapists France Clément Hazard
France Denis Morcel
France Alexandre Germain
France Guillaume Vassout
Team Manager France Philippe Brocherieux
Kit Manager France Nicolas Piry
Chef France Xavier Rousseau
Security officer France Mohamed Sanhadji
Steward France Bachir Nehar
France Johan Perez
Media officer France Raphaël Raymond
Media reporter France Guillaume Bigot

Coaching History

Main article: France national football team manager

Managers in italic were temporary coaches.

Manager France career Pld W D L Win %
France Guérin, HenriHenri Guérin 1964–1966 &&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06 &&&&&&&&&&&&&033.30000033.3
Spain Arribas, JoséJosé Arribas
France Snella, JeanJean Snella		 1966 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&050.&&&&&050.0
France Fontaine, JustJust Fontaine 1967 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
France Dugauguez, LouisLouis Dugauguez 1967–1968 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&022.20000022.2
France Boulogne, GeorgesGeorges Boulogne 1969–1973 &&&&&&&&&&&&&031.&&&&&031 &&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011 &&&&&&&&&&&&&048.40000048.4
Romania Kovács, ȘtefanȘtefan Kovács 1973–1975 &&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &&&&&&&&&&&&&040.&&&&&040.0
France Hidalgo, MichelMichel Hidalgo 1976–1984 &&&&&&&&&&&&&075.&&&&&075 &&&&&&&&&&&&&041.&&&&&041 &&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016 &&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018 &&&&&&&&&&&&&054.70000054.7
France Michel, HenriHenri Michel 1984–1988 &&&&&&&&&&&&&036.&&&&&036 &&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016 &&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08 &&&&&&&&&&&&&044.40000044.4
France Platini, MichelMichel Platini 1988–1992 &&&&&&&&&&&&&029.&&&&&029 &&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &&&&&&&&&&&&&055.20000055.2
France Houllier, GérardGérard Houllier 1992–1993 &&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&058.30000058.3
France Jacquet, AiméAimé Jacquet 1993–1998 &&&&&&&&&&&&&053.&&&&&053 &&&&&&&&&&&&&034.&&&&&034 &&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 &&&&&&&&&&&&&064.20000064.2
France Lemerre, RogerRoger Lemerre 1998–2002 &&&&&&&&&&&&&053.&&&&&053 &&&&&&&&&&&&&034.&&&&&034 &&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08 &&&&&&&&&&&&&064.20000064.2
France Santini, JacquesJacques Santini 2002–2004 &&&&&&&&&&&&&028.&&&&&028 &&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&078.60000078.6
France Domenech, RaymondRaymond Domenech 2004–2010 &&&&&&&&&&&&&079.&&&&&079 &&&&&&&&&&&&&041.&&&&&041 &&&&&&&&&&&&&024.&&&&&024 &&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014 &&&&&&&&&&&&&051.90000051.9
France Blanc, LaurentLaurent Blanc 2010–2012 &&&&&&&&&&&&&027.&&&&&027 &&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&059.30000059.3
France Deschamps, DidierDidier Deschamps 2012–present &&&&&&&&&&&&0165.&&&&&0165 &&&&&&&&&&&&0105.&&&&&0105 &&&&&&&&&&&&&034.&&&&&034 &&&&&&&&&&&&&026.&&&&&026 &&&&&&&&&&&&&063.60000063.6

Players

For all past and present players who have appeared for the national team, see List of France international footballers.
See also: List of France national football team captains

Current Squad

The players listed below were chosen for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League matches in November 2024.

Caps and goals are updated as of November 17, 2024, after the match against  Italy.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Brice Samba (1994-04-25) 25 April 1994 (age 31) 3 0 France Lens
16 1GK Mike Maignan (1995-07-03) 3 July 1995 (age 29) 28 0 Italy Milan
23 1GK Lucas Chevalier (2001-11-06) 6 November 2001 (age 23) 0 0 France Lille
2 2DF Benjamin Pavard (1996-03-28) 28 March 1996 (age 29) 55 5 Italy Inter Milan
3 2DF Lucas Digne (1993-07-20) 20 July 1993 (age 31) 50 0 England Aston Villa
4 2DF Dayot Upamecano (1998-10-27) 27 October 1998 (age 26) 28 2 Germany Bayern Munich
5 2DF Jules Koundé (1998-11-12) 12 November 1998 (age 26) 40 0 Spain Barcelona
15 2DF Ibrahima Konaté (1999-05-25) 25 May 1999 (age 26) 21 0 England Liverpool
17 2DF William Saliba (2001-03-24) 24 March 2001 (age 24) 26 0 England Arsenal
22 2DF Théo Hernandez (1997-10-06) 6 October 1997 (age 27) 36 2 Italy Milan
8 3MF Manu Koné (2001-05-17) 17 May 2001 (age 24) 4 0 Italy Roma
13 3MF N'Golo Kanté (vice-captain) (1991-03-29) 29 March 1991 (age 34) 64 2 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
14 3MF Adrien Rabiot (1995-04-03) 3 April 1995 (age 30) 50 6 France Marseille
18 3MF Warren Zaïre-Emery (2006-03-08) 8 March 2006 (age 19) 6 1 France Paris Saint-Germain
19 3MF Mattéo Guendouzi (1999-04-14) 14 April 1999 (age 26) 12 2 Italy Lazio
7 4FW Michael Olise (2001-12-12) 12 December 2001 (age 23) 4 0 Germany Bayern Munich
9 4FW Marcus Thuram (1997-08-06) 6 August 1997 (age 27) 29 2 Italy Inter Milan
10 4FW Christopher Nkunku (1997-11-14) 14 November 1997 (age 27) 14 1 England Chelsea
11 4FW Kingsley Coman (1996-06-13) 13 June 1996 (age 29) 58 8 Germany Bayern Munich
12 4FW Randal Kolo Muani (1998-12-05) 5 December 1998 (age 26) 27 8 France Paris Saint-Germain
20 4FW Bradley Barcola (2002-09-02) 2 September 2002 (age 22) 11 2 France Paris Saint-Germain

Recent Player Call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the team in the last year.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Alphonse Areola (1993-02-27) 27 February 1993 (age 32) 5 0 England West Ham United v.  Belgium, 14 October 2024
DF Jonathan Clauss (1992-09-25) 25 September 1992 (age 32) 14 2 France Nice v.  Italy, 17 November 2024 INJ
DF Wesley Fofana (2000-12-17) 17 December 2000 (age 24) 1 0 England Chelsea v.  Israel, 14 November 2024 INJ
DF Loïc Badé (2000-04-11) 11 April 2000 (age 25) 0 0 Spain Sevilla v.  Belgium, 14 October 2024
DF Ferland Mendy (1995-06-08) 8 June 1995 (age 30) 10 0 Spain Real Madrid v.  Italy, 6 September 2024 INJ
DF Lucas Hernandez (1996-02-14) 14 February 1996 (age 29) 37 0 France Paris Saint-Germain v.  Chile, 26 March 2024
MF Eduardo Camavinga (2002-11-10) 10 November 2002 (age 22) 24 2 Spain Real Madrid v.  Italy, 17 November 2024 SUS
MF Aurélien Tchouaméni (2000-01-27) 27 January 2000 (age 25) 38 3 Spain Real Madrid v.  Belgium, 14 October 2024
MF Youssouf Fofana (1999-01-10) 10 January 1999 (age 26) 25 3 Italy AC Milan v.  Belgium, 14 October 2024
FW Ousmane Dembélé (1997-05-15) 15 May 1997 (age 28) 53 6 France Paris Saint-Germain v.  Israel, 14 November 2024 INJ
FW Kylian Mbappé (captain) (1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 (age 26) 86 48 Spain Real Madrid v.  Belgium, 9 September 2024
FW Antoine Griezmann RET (1991-03-21) 21 March 1991 (age 34) 137 44 Spain Atlético Madrid v.  Belgium, 9 September 2024
FW Olivier Giroud RET (1986-09-30) 30 September 1986 (age 38) 137 57 United States Los Angeles FC UEFA Euro 2024
FW Moussa Diaby (1999-07-07) 7 July 1999 (age 25) 11 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad v.  Chile, 26 March 2024
Notes
  • INJ = Withdrew due to injury
  • RET = Retired from the national team
  • SUS = Serving suspension

Player of the Year

Further information: French Player of the Year

Player Records

Main articles: List of France international footballers and France national football team records and statistics
See also: List of leading goalscorers for the France national football team and List of France national football team captains

Players in bold are still playing for France.

Most Appearances for France

Lloris 2018 (cropped)
Hugo Lloris is France's most capped player with 145 games played.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Hugo Lloris 145 0 2008–2022
2 Lilian Thuram 142 2 1994–2008
3 Olivier Giroud 137 57 2011–2024
Antoine Griezmann 44 2014–2024
5 Thierry Henry 123 51 1997–2010
6 Marcel Desailly 116 3 1993–2004
7 Zinedine Zidane 108 31 1994–2006
8 Patrick Vieira 107 6 1997–2009
9 Didier Deschamps 103 4 1989–2000
10 Karim Benzema 97 37 2007–2022
Laurent Blanc 16 1989–2000
Bixente Lizarazu 2 1992–2004

Top Goalscorers for France

Olivier Giroud (51100321546) (cropped)
Olivier Giroud is France's top goalscorer with 57 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Average Career
1 Olivier Giroud (list) 57 137 0.42 2011–2024
2 Thierry Henry (list) 51 123 0.41 1997–2010
3 Kylian Mbappé 48 86 0.56 2017–present
4 Antoine Griezmann 44 137 0.32 2014–2024
5 Michel Platini 41 72 0.57 1976–1987
6 Karim Benzema 37 97 0.38 2007–2022
7 David Trezeguet 34 71 0.48 1998–2008
8 Zinedine Zidane 31 108 0.29 1994–2006
9 Just Fontaine 30 21 1.43 1953–1960
Jean-Pierre Papin 54 0.56 1986–1995

Team Achievements

Main article: France national football team all-time record
For single-match results of the national team, see French football single-season articles and the team's results page

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place     Tournament played on home soil  

FIFA World Cup Record

Main article: France at the FIFA World Cup

France was one of the first European teams to play in the first World Cup in 1930. They have played in sixteen FIFA World Cups so far. France is one of only eight teams to have won the World Cup. They won their first World Cup title in 1998 when they hosted the tournament, beating Brazil 3–0 in the final.

In 2006, France finished second, losing to Italy on penalties. The team has also finished third twice, in 1958 and 1986. Their worst results were being knocked out in the first round in 2002 and 2010. In 2002, they lost to Senegal and didn't score any goals. In 2010, the team had internal issues and lost two of their three matches.

In 2014, France reached the quarter-finals but lost to Germany. Four years later, France beat Croatia 4–2 in the final to win their second World Cup. In 2022, France finished second again, losing to Argentina on penalties.

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA —
Uruguay 1930 Group stage 7th 3 1 0 2 4 3 Squad Qualified as invitees
Italy 1934 Round of 16 9th 1 0 0 1 2 3 Squad 1 1 0 0 6 1 1934
France 1938 Quarter-finals 6th 2 1 0 1 4 4 Squad Qualified as hosts 1938
Brazil 1950 Originally did not qualify, then invited, later withdrew 3 0 2 1 4 5 1950
Switzerland 1954 Group stage 11th 2 1 0 1 3 3 Squad 4 4 0 0 20 4 1954
Sweden 1958 Third place 3rd 6 4 0 2 23 15 Squad 4 3 1 0 19 4 1958
Chile 1962 Did not qualify 5 3 0 2 10 4 1962
England 1966 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 2 5 Squad 6 5 0 1 9 2 1966
Mexico 1970 Did not qualify 4 2 0 2 6 4 1970
West Germany 1974 4 1 1 2 3 5 1974
Argentina 1978 Group stage 12th 3 1 0 2 5 5 Squad 4 2 1 1 7 4 1978
Spain 1982 Fourth place 4th 7 3 2 2 16 12 Squad 8 5 0 3 20 8 1982
Mexico 1986 Third place 3rd 7 4 2 1 12 6 Squad 8 5 1 2 15 4 1986
Italy 1990 Did not qualify 8 3 3 2 10 7 1990
United States 1994 10 6 1 3 17 10 1994
France 1998 Champions 1st 7 6 1 0 15 2 Squad Qualified as hosts 1998
South Korea Japan 2002 Group stage 28th 3 0 1 2 0 3 Squad Qualified as defending champions 2002
Germany 2006 Runners-up 2nd 7 4 3 0 9 3 Squad 10 5 5 0 14 2 2006
South Africa 2010 Group stage 29th 3 0 1 2 1 4 Squad 12 7 4 1 20 10 2010
Brazil 2014 Quarter-finals 7th 5 3 1 1 10 3 Squad 10 6 2 2 18 8 2014
Russia 2018 Champions 1st 7 6 1 0 14 6 Squad 10 7 2 1 18 6 2018
Qatar 2022 Runners-up 2nd 7 5 1 1 16 8 Squad 8 5 3 0 18 3 2022
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined 2026
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034 2034
Total 2 Titles 16/22 73 39 14 20 136 85 — 119 70 26 23 234 91 —
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
**Red border indicates tournament was held on home soil.

UEFA European Championship Record

Main article: France at the UEFA European Championship

France is one of the most successful teams in the UEFA European Championship, winning two titles in 1984 and 2000. Only Spain (four titles) and Germany (three titles) have won more. France hosted the first competition in 1960. They have played in eleven European Championship tournaments.

The team won their first title at home in 1984, led by Michel Platini. In 2000, with Zinedine Zidane, they won their second title. The team's worst results were being knocked out in the first round in 1992 and 2008.

UEFA European Championship record Qualifying record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA —
France 1960 Fourth place 4th 2 0 0 2 4 7 Squad 4 3 1 0 17 6 1960
Spain 1964 Did not qualify 6 2 1 3 11 10 1964
Italy 1968 8 4 2 2 16 12 1968
Belgium 1972 6 3 1 2 10 8 1972
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1976 6 1 3 2 7 6 1976
Italy 1980 6 4 1 1 13 7 1980
France 1984 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 14 4 Squad Qualified as hosts 1984
West Germany 1988 Did not qualify 8 1 4 3 4 7 1988
Sweden 1992 Group stage 6th 3 0 2 1 2 3 Squad 8 8 0 0 20 6 1992
England 1996 Semi-finals 4th 5 2 3 0 5 2 Squad 10 5 5 0 22 2 1996
Belgium Netherlands 2000 Champions 1st 6 5 0 1 13 7 Squad 10 6 3 1 17 10 2000
Portugal 2004 Quarter-finals 6th 4 2 1 1 7 5 Squad 8 8 0 0 29 2 2004
Austria Switzerland 2008 Group stage 15th 3 0 1 2 1 6 Squad 12 8 2 2 25 5 2008
Poland Ukraine 2012 Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 1 2 3 5 Squad 10 6 3 1 15 4 2012
France 2016 Runners-up 2nd 7 5 1 1 13 5 Squad Qualified as hosts 2016
Europe 2020 Round of 16 11th 4 1 3 0 7 6 Squad 10 8 1 1 25 6 2020
Germany 2024 Semi-finals 4th 6 2 3 1 4 3 Squad 8 7 1 0 29 3 2024
United Kingdom Republic of Ireland 2028 To be determined To be determined 2028
Italy Turkey 2032 2032
Total 2 Titles 11/17 49 23 15 11 73 53 — 120 74 28 18 260 94 —
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

UEFA Nations League Record

Main article: France in the UEFA Nations League
UEFA Nations League record
League phase Finals
Season LG Grp Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK Year Pos Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
2018–19 A 1 2nd 4 2 1 1 4 4 Same position 6th Portugal 2019 Did not qualify
2020–21 A 3 1st 6 5 1 0 12 5 Same position 1st Italy 2021 1st 2 2 0 0 5 3 Squad
2022–23 A 1 3rd 6 1 2 3 5 7 Same position 12th Netherlands 2023 Did not qualify
2024–25 A 2 1st 6 4 1 1 12 6 Same position 2025 To be determined
Total 22 12 5 5 33 22 Total 2 2 0 0 5 3 1 Title
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
**Group stage played home and away. Flag shown represents host nation for the finals stage.

FIFA Confederations Cup Record

Main article: France at the FIFA Confederations Cup

France has played in two of the eight FIFA Confederations Cup tournaments and won both times. Their two titles put them in second place, behind only Brazil (who have four). France won their first Confederations Cup in 2001 because they had won the FIFA World Cup in 1998. They beat Japan 1–0 in the final. In the next Confederations Cup in 2003, France won again as the host country, beating Cameroon 1–0 after extra time.

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
Saudi Arabia 1992 Did not qualify
Saudi Arabia 1995
Saudi Arabia 1997
Mexico 1999
South Korea Japan 2001 Champions 1st 5 4 0 1 12 2 Squad
France 2003 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 12 3 Squad
Germany 2005 Did not qualify
South Africa 2009
Brazil 2013
Russia 2017
Total 2 Titles 2/10 10 9 0 1 24 5 —

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions Record

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
France 1985 Champions 1st 1 1 0 0 2 0
Argentina 1993 Did not qualify
England 2022
Total 1 Title 1/3 1 1 0 0 2 0

Honors and Trophies

France champion of the Football World Cup Russia 2018
France celebrating their victory of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Major Competitions Won

Friendly Tournament Wins

  • Kirin Cup
    • Champions (1): 1994
  • Hassan II Trophy
    • Champions (2): 1998, 2000
  • LG Cup
    • Champions (1): 1999
  • Tournoi de France
    • Champions (1): 1988

Summary of Major Trophies

Competition 1 2 3 Total
FIFA World Cup 2 2 2 6
Olympic Games 1 1 0 2
FIFA Confederations Cup 2 0 0 2
UEFA European Championship 2 1 0 3
UEFA Nations League 1 0 0 1
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions 1 0 0 1
Total 9 4 2 15

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Francia para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
France national football team Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.