France are one of the power nations of international football, and have won the World Cup as well as the European Championships. Often one of the most exciting teams to watch in world football, they have enjoyed the riches of having such stars as Michel Platini, Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane in their ranks. But for all their natural flair, they were a frustration to their fans until 1998, when they won the World Cup for the first time, doing so in front of their own fans in France. [+]

They followed this up with the only European Championships ever to have been won on a ‘Golden Goal’, and ever since have been one of the teams to watch in every major tournament.

The French, known as Les Bleu, played their first official game in 1904, almost thirty years after the formation of the English club game. It did not take France long to be noticed on a global scale. They appeared in their first World Cup in 1930, but their first quantifiable success is probably their third-place finish in 1958. Just Fontaine was their biggest star, and led by Raymond Kopa, that result would not be bettered until 1998, although a Platini-inspired France won their first trophy in 1984 when they took the European Championships that year. 

In 1998, Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane led France to a 3-0 World Cup final win against the mighty Brazil which will go down in French history as one of their best ever days. France followed up that incredible tournament victory with another European Championships title in 2000, courtesy of that famous ‘Golden Goal’ scored by David Trezeguet. They were the first team in football history to win the Euros straight after the World Cup. In winning the Confederations Cup in 2001, France became only the second team to win the three top-ranked titles FIFA could offer after Argentina.

However, a shock Senegalese victory in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup led to an early exit for Les Bleus. Things were to get even worse in the next World Cup, when Zinedine Zidane disgraced himself with the infamous ‘headbutt’ incident that saw Zidane sent off in the final against eventual winners, Italy.

The 2008 Euros went no better when France, drawn against the Netherlands and Italy in what many pundits dubbed the ‘Group of Death’, crashed out at the group stage. World Cup 2010 in South Africa saw France go into complete meltdown after Nicolas Anelka was sent home in disgrace after rowing with manager Raymond Domenech.

The civil war in the French camp saw all 23 remaining players suspended for the first game after the World Cup, which again ended at the group stage. The fallout was severe, and it has taken a long time for France to become a major force again, despite a positive World Cup in Brazil 2014 which ended to eventual winners Germany.

Can France reign supreme on home soil again in 2016? The European Championships favourites are +300 to win a trophy for the first time in 16 years.

Who Does France National Team Play Next

Want to bet on France’s chances in the next game? From friendlies to Euro 2016 and beyond, every match Les Bleus play will be an exciting one. Find the value and look for the latest odds. 

UEFA Nations League - League A - 6
Sunday, Nov 17, 202402:45 PM
3FT1
France@Italy
Last update on Dec 5, 2024 11:45 PM

France National Team Game Schedule

Check out all of France’s upcoming games as Les Bleus attempt to win their first tournament since Euro 2000 on home soil for Euro 2016. 

⚽ World Cup2022
SeasonStatusAwayAway ScoreHome ScoreHome
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 20 - 11:00FTEcuador20Qatar
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 21 - 08:00FTIran26England
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 21 - 11:00FTNetherlands20Senegal
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 21 - 14:00FTWales11USA
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 22 - 05:00FTSaudi Arabia21Argentina
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 22 - 08:00FTTunisia00Denmark
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 22 - 11:00FTPoland00Mexico
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 22 - 14:00FTAustralia14France
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 23 - 05:00FTCroatia00Morocco
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 23 - 08:00FTJapan21Germany
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 23 - 11:00FTCosta Rica07Spain
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 23 - 14:00FTCanada01Belgium
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 24 - 05:00FTCameroon01Switzerland
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 24 - 08:00FTSouth Korea00Uruguay
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 24 - 11:00FTGhana23Portugal
2022Group Stage - 1Nov 24 - 14:00FTSerbia02Brazil
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 25 - 05:00FTIran20Wales
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 25 - 08:00FTSenegal31Qatar
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 25 - 11:00FTEcuador11Netherlands
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 25 - 14:00FTUSA00England
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 26 - 05:00FTAustralia10Tunisia
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 26 - 08:00FTSaudi Arabia02Poland
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 26 - 11:00FTDenmark12France
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 26 - 14:00FTMexico02Argentina
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 27 - 05:00FTCosta Rica10Japan
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 27 - 08:00FTMorocco20Belgium
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 27 - 11:00FTCanada14Croatia
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 27 - 14:00FTGermany11Spain
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 28 - 05:00FTSerbia33Cameroon
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 28 - 08:00FTGhana32South Korea
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 28 - 11:00FTSwitzerland01Brazil
2022Group Stage - 2Nov 28 - 14:00FTUruguay02Portugal
2022Group Stage - 3Nov 29 - 10:00FTQatar02Netherlands
2022Group Stage - 3Nov 29 - 10:00FTSenegal21Ecuador
2022Group Stage - 3Nov 29 - 14:00FTUSA10Iran
2022Group Stage - 3Nov 29 - 14:00FTEngland30Wales
2022Group Stage - 3Nov 30 - 10:00FTDenmark01Australia
2022Group Stage - 3Nov 30 - 10:00FTFrance01Tunisia
2022Group Stage - 3Nov 30 - 14:00FTMexico21Saudi Arabia
2022Group Stage - 3Nov 30 - 14:00FTArgentina20Poland
2022Group Stage - 3Dec 01 - 10:00FTBelgium00Croatia
2022Group Stage - 3Dec 01 - 10:00FTMorocco21Canada
2022Group Stage - 3Dec 01 - 14:00FTSpain12Japan
2022Group Stage - 3Dec 01 - 14:00FTGermany42Costa Rica
2022Group Stage - 3Dec 02 - 10:00FTPortugal12South Korea
2022Group Stage - 3Dec 02 - 10:00FTUruguay20Ghana
2022Group Stage - 3Dec 02 - 14:00FTSwitzerland32Serbia
2022Group Stage - 3Dec 02 - 14:00FTBrazil01Cameroon
2022Round of 16Dec 03 - 10:00FTUSA13Netherlands
2022Round of 16Dec 03 - 14:00FTAustralia12Argentina
2022Round of 16Dec 04 - 10:00FTPoland13France
2022Round of 16Dec 04 - 14:00FTSenegal03England
2022Round of 16Dec 05 - 10:00PENCroatia1 (3)1 (1)Japan
2022Round of 16Dec 05 - 14:00FTSouth Korea14Brazil
2022Round of 16Dec 06 - 10:00PENSpain0 (0)0 (3)Morocco
2022Round of 16Dec 06 - 14:00FTSwitzerland16Portugal
2022Quarter-finalsDec 09 - 10:00PENBrazil1 (2)1 (4)Croatia
2022Quarter-finalsDec 09 - 14:00PENArgentina2 (4)2 (3)Netherlands
2022Quarter-finalsDec 10 - 10:00FTPortugal01Morocco
2022Quarter-finalsDec 10 - 14:00FTFrance21England
2022Semi-finalsDec 13 - 14:00FTCroatia03Argentina
2022Semi-finalsDec 14 - 14:00FTMorocco02France
20223rd Place FinalDec 17 - 10:00FTMorocco12Croatia
2022FinalDec 18 - 10:00PENFrance3 (2)3 (4)Argentina
Last update on Dec 6, 2024 12:15 AM

France National Team Standings Today

Check out where France sit in the Euro 2016 Championships and latest qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup as Les Blues try to ring in a new golden age.

⚽ World Cup2022
#TEAMPTSPlayedWinsTiesLoosesGFGA+/-Historical
Group A
1Netherlands73210514WDW
2Senegal63201541WWL
3Ecuador43111431LDW
4Qatar0300317-6LLL
Group B
1England73210927WDW
2USA53120211WDD
3Iran3310247-3LWL
4Wales1301216-5LLD
Group C
1Argentina63201523WWL
2Poland43111220LWD
3Mexico4311123-1WLD
4Saudi Arabia3310235-2LLW
Group D
1France63201633LWW
2Australia6320134-1WWL
3Tunisia43111110WLD
4Denmark1301213-2LLD
Group E
1Japan63201431WLW
2Spain43111936LDW
3Germany43111651WDL
4Costa Rica33102311-8LWL
Group F
1Morocco73210413WWD
2Croatia53120413DWD
3Belgium4311112-1DLW
4Canada0300327-5LLL
Group G
1Brazil63201312LWW
2Switzerland63201431WLW
3Cameroon43111440WDL
4Serbia1301258-3LDL
Group H
1Portugal63201642LWW
2South Korea43111440WLD
3Uruguay43111220WLD
4Ghana3310257-2LWL
Last update on Dec 6, 2024 12:15 AM

How To Make Money Betting On France

France go into their first host nation tournament since 1998 as red-hot favorites, just +300 to win the entire Euro 2016 tournament. This time around, of course, they have the pre-tournament impetus of trying to prove that they don’t need one of the greatest strikers in world football in Karim Benzema.

The Real Madrid striker was barred from the squad after an alleged blackmail plot involving team-mate Valbuena, and France have sided with the latter. But it is not only Valbuena France have to call on, with some of the most exciting young talent in the game present right through the spine of Les Blues.

In goal, Hugo Lloris, captain since 2012, has starred for Tottenham Hotspur all season and can be relied on, while Raphael Varane at centre-back has exactly the same prowess.

Antoine Griezmann is a brilliant talent on the wings, but Paul Pogba is a central midfielder who is one of the best in the world.

Up front, €50m sensation Anthony Martial was arguably Manchester United’s best player during the 2015-16 season. All this makes France a great prospect for success this summer, but although we like them for the tournament, we’d recommend putting a bet on them later in the tournament when they are better value.

France are almost certain to win Group A (-350) but far more appealing is the prediction of a France/Switzerland (+125) or France/Romania (+350) 1-2 forecast. France & Romania, in any order, is +275.

Paul Pogba will be crucial for France in Euro 2016 and could be player of the tournament.