His credentials were never in question having led Lyon to back-to-back domestic titles and he quickly stamped his own personality on the French job.

Santini kept faith with Fabien Barthez and Claude Makelele even though they were out of favour at club level and he was repaid with superb performance as France cruised effortlessly through qualification for Euro 2004.

The confidence has now returned but Santini has vowed to use the disappointment of the World Cup to motivate his squad to retain the European Championship title.