France's perfect record

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Points
	France	8	8	0	0	29	2	24
	Slovenia	8	4	2	2	15	12	14
	Israel	8	2	3	3	9	11	9
	Cyprus	8	2	2	4	9	18	8
	Malta	8	0	1	7	5	24	1

Group 1 placed France against Slovenia, Cyprus, Israel and Malta in what some called the 'Holiday Group'.

Having had a disastrous World Cup, where they were knocked out in the first round, European champions France showed their class by winning all eight qualifiers under new coach Jacques Santini.

The French scored 29 goals, conceeded just two and were the most impressive side in the whole qualifying stage of the tournament.

Slovenia, qualifiers back in 2000, started their campaign well, beating Malta 3-0 at home but then a heavy defeat in Paris saw the France put five past them without reply.

Israel began their campaign the same day with a 2-0 success in Malta but could only follow that success up with a 1-1 draw away to Cyprus.

Meanwhile, France won their two matches against the Maltese 4-0 and 6-0 to go clear at the top of the group in which it already looked like a race for second place between Slovenia and the Israelis.

Slovenia gained the upper hand with two wins - against Cyprus and Malta - in succession but Israel stayed there or thereabouts after coming back from a home defeat by France to beat Cyprus and then hold the Slovenians to a 0-0 at home.

The two sides met again in September when Slovenia finally managed to put some daylight between themselves and their opponents with a 3-1 win in Ljublijana and all Israeli hopes were finally extinguished when they could only draw 2-2 at home to Malta.

France finished their qualifying campaign as the only side with a 100 per cent record after easing past Israel 3-0 in Paris, with all three goals coming in the first half.

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry opened the scoring with his 25th international goal, David Trezeguet then brilliantly volleyed home the 27th of his France career, before Liverpool target Jean-Alain Boumsong headed home his first-ever goal for Les Bleus.

Slovenia, by now assured of a play-off place, drew 2-2 in Cyprus.