France travel to the Qatar World Cup as the reigning champions after triumphing in Russia. But boss Didier Deschamps will want to avoid repeating Les Bleus’ woeful defence in 2002.
Japan and South Korea welcomed the footballing family to Asia for the first time 20 years ago. Just like Qatar will do so this year when the Arabian Peninsula country hosts the first World Cup in the Middle East. The 22nd edition runs from November 20 to December 18.
France headed for Asia as the defending champions after lifting the World Cup trophy for the first time in 1998. Zinedine Zidane, Lillian Thuram, Thierry Henry and Lauren Blanc all enjoyed key roles in helping Les Bleus to global glory on home soil having hosted the event.
It took another 20 years for France to triumph on the global stage again as Les Bleus won it all in 2018. Kylian Mbappe, Raphael Varane, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba were vital to their victory in Russia. Now, they must fear repeating their iconic predecessors’ failures.
France went to the 2002 World Cup as the defending global and European champions
Roger Lemerre picked up from where Aime Jacquet left off in 1998 to see France emerge as the dominant force in international football. Jacquet had overseen Les Bleus’ World Cup in 1998 before Lemerre led the nation to back it up in Europe by winning the Euro 2000 title.
Not having to qualify for the 2002 World Cup as the defending champions meant Lemerre could experiment with France’s team. Yet they still added further silverware to the French Football Federation’s offices with the 2001 Confederations Cup in Japan and South Korea.
So, when the next World Cup rolled around in 2002, France were expected to defend their FIFA title. Especially as Lemerre had the top scorers from the Premier League, Serie A and Ligue 1 all at his disposal in Henry, David Trezeguet and Djibril Cisse. But it was not to be.
The Japan and South Korea tournament would turn into a nightmare for France and their veteran squad. Nine of the 23 players that Lemerre named in his team were in their 30s. Yet their experience would count for little as France returned home after only the group stage.
Not since the 1966 World Cup when Brazil returned to South America after the first round had a defending champion crashed and burned so soon. Even worse for France, Lemerre’s squad had not even managed to score a single goal as they fell to two defeats and a draw.
Senegal sent Les Bleus crashing back down to earth in Seoul
France rode a wave of confidence all the way to Asia with Lemerre’s squad arguably better at Euro 2000 than Jacquet’s XI had been when they won the 1998 World Cup. Yet Senegal would send Les Bleus crashing back down to earth in the opening tie for the 2002 edition.
FIFA allocated the first match to the defending World Cup champions at each edition from 1974 to 2002. France would have wished the governing body was awarding the host nation the opening game in Japan and South Korea. It has gone to the hosts at each edition since.
Senegal were a shock to the system for France as the West African’s pace left centre-backs Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf chasing shadows. Youri Djorkaeff would be no stand-in for Zidane in midfield, either, with Lemerre missing his talisman as he tore a thigh muscle.
El Hadji Diouf, Papa Bouba Diop, Salif Diao and Khalilou Fadiga would be the architects of France’s misery in Seoul. They dominated the left-hand channel in front of a sell-out crowd to make the superstars look like amateurs embarrassed by how far off the pace they were.
France could not say a goal had not been coming when Diao mugged Djorkaeff for the ball on the halfway line. Senegal then broke as Djorkaeff watched Diao play possession over to Diouf. His cross from the left would fall invitingly for Diop to slot in on the half-hour mark.
Trezeguet and Henry would both strike the woodwork as France searched high and low for an equaliser. But the ball refused to fall Les Bleus’ way and they would sit at the bottom of Group A. The defeat was also enough for Lemerre to axe Djorkaeff next time out in Busan.
Lemerre could not find a response against Uruguay even without Djorkaeff
Yet even with Djorkaeff dropping to the bench, Lemerre could not find a response against Uruguay. France started the stronger of the two sides at the Asiad Main Stadium. But it all fell apart as quickly as the pieces appeared to be falling into place when Leboeuf came off.
Leboeuf only played in the first quarter of an hour before making way for Vincent Candela. Henry would not help France avoid their horrors continuing, either, as the Arsenal legend’s dangerous challenge forced Mexican referee Felipe Ramos to reach for a straight red card.
Just 25 minutes were on the clock as Henry trudged back to the dressing having played his final act of the 2002 World Cup. His dismissal gave Uruguay all the fuel they needed to up the pressure, too. Were it not for Fabien Barthez in goal, La Celeste would have run riot.
Instead, through an inspired performance from Barthez, France managed to hold Uruguay to a 0-0 draw. The point also meant Les Bleus’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages were not over. Denmark and Senegal only played a 1-1 draw at the Daegu World Cup Stadium.
Yet France’s final Group A tie with Denmark would be a boom or bust encounter. Victory could move Les Bleus into second behind Senegal if the Lions of Teranga stopped Uruguay winning. Just one point from the Incheon Munhak Stadium meeting would not be enough.
Zidane’s return was not enough as Denmark sent France packing
Senegal did France a favour by holding Uruguay to a 3-3 draw in Suwon. The result meant the West Africans were guaranteed to reach the Round of 16, but the top spot was still up for Denmark’s taking. And De Rod-Hvide were not prepared to let the chance go to waste.
Zidane would return from his earlier injury to take on the Danes in South Korea. Yet Dennis Rommedahl took just 22 minutes to break the deadlock. His effort left France needing two goals to stay in the 2002 World Cup when the defending champions were still yet to score.
Jon Dahl Tomasson then removed any chance France may have felt was still on the cards in the 67th minute. His attempt midway through the second half ensured there was no route back for Lemerre’s men. The 2-0 win over France confirmed Denmark as Group A winners.
Lemerre paid the ultimate price for France’s woeful World Cup defence
Lemerre paid the ultimate price for France’s woeful World Cup defence in 2002 as Jacques Santini came in as the new head coach. Yet he only stayed until 2004 before the FFF hired Raymond Domenech, who led Les Bleus all the way to the World Cup final two years later.
France would not win the title at Germany 2006 but gave Henry, Zidane and Patrick Vieira a much better send-off. Now, Mbappe, Pogba and Varane will hope they do not fall on the wrong side of history by repeating France’s miserable World Cup defence over Qatar 2022.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
