World ranking

5

UEFA Champs Records

Quarter-finalists 1989

Euro 2005 qualification

Group 3 winners

Colours

Blue shirts with white trim, white shorts

Coach

Elisabeth Loisel

Key players

Marinette Pichon (striker), Corinne Diacre (defender), Stéphanie Mugneret-Béghé (midfielder)

Website 

www.fff.fr


The fact that they reached the 2003 finals will be sadly remembered by England, who they knocked out in the two-leg qualifying play-off final. The French have become something of a frustrating thorn in the side of England, winning by a one-goal margin on each of the last five occasions the two nations have met.

It has been during these last few years that France, under Head Coach Elisabeth Loisel, have made the massive strides which culminated in the six-match winning sequence that clinched qualification for Euro 2005 with two of their Group 3 fixtures remaining.

Loisel has been successfully developing her team by gradually bringing in talented youngsters to replace the old guard, but experienced players have continued to play key roles in the heat of competitive action.

Captain Corinne Diacre, whose goal against England in St Etienne clinched France’s World Cup place, celebrated both her 30th birthday and her 100th international cap during her team’s qualifying campaign.

Stéphanie Mugneret-Béghé, equally adept in midfield or attack, is also now in her 30’s but shone throughout the group games as did France’s America based star player Marinette Pichon, who will herself turn 30 in 2005.

A colleague of England’s Kelly Smith first at Philadelphia Charge and now New Jersey Wildcats, Pichon hit 13 goals in seven qualifying group appearances and will be one of the most feared strikers at Euro 2005.

So while younger players such as Laetitia Tonazzi and Amelie Coquet are becoming more firmly established in the squad, Loisel will retain what has become a potent blend of youth and experience for the UEFA tournament.