1998 had always been seen as French football’s annus mirabilis, a year that reached its peak with the national team’s victory at their home FIFA World Cup™. Now, 20 years down the line, a second star can be sewn on to those iconic blue shirts following the triumphant performance of Didier Deschamps’ men at Russia 2018.
This begs a question: what if 2018 was to go so far as to surpass 1998 in the hearts of French football fans? Indeed, quite aside from their coronation in Moscow, a series of recent events have combined to make 2018 a golden period for the French Football Federation.
We take a closer look at the unique run of success that has seen France re-emerge at the centre of the footballing universe.
1 - A second star in the blue sky
On 15 July 2018, at around 21.00 local time, the heavens opened above Moscow. Soon the pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium was being pounded by a torrential downpour of rain. However, an even greater force of nature was destined to rise above the deluge that evening, with the sound of the rain drowned out by the cries of joy and emotion emanating from the French players as Hugo Lloris raised the World Cup aloft following their resounding 4-2 victory over Croatia. And so the likes of Raphael Varane, Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Ngole Kante and Olivier Giroud wrote their names into the history books alongside Zinedine Zidane, Fabien Barthez, Laurent Blanc and, above all, their coach Didier Deschamps, who had enjoyed the same honour as Lloris back in 1998.
Kylian Mbappe was not yet born when Deschamps became the first Frenchman to lift the historic trophy. Nonetheless, he was determined to leave his mark on this year’s tournament, scoring a goal in the final and winning the FIFA Young Player award. “We’ve won and it’s only the beginning, we’re going to savour this for four years!” enthused his team-mate Benjamin Pavard, scorer of the Goal of the Tournament.
How the world watched Russia 2018
FRANCE: People gather in the fan zone to watch the Russia 2018 Final between France and Croatia
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19 Jul 2018
TOPSHOT - People gather on the fan zone to watch the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia, on the Champ de Mars in Paris on July 15, 2018. / AFP / JACQUES DEMARTHON
© AFP
KENYA: A big screen in Nairobi shows Nigeria take on Argentina
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19 Jul 2018
Kenyans watch during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Nigeria and Argentina on a giant display installed on a truck by a sports betting company in Nairobi on June 26, 2018. / AFP / Yasuyoshi CHIBA
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CROATIA: Supporters celebrate the second goal as they watch the semi-final against England
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19 Jul 2018
TOPSHOT - Croatia's supporters celebrate the second goal as they watch on a giant screen the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match between Croatia and England, at the main square in Zagreb on July 11, 2018. / AFP / Denis Lovrovic
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USA: People watch France playing Croatia in the World Cup final in Miami Beach
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19 Jul 2018
MIAMI BEACH, FL - JULY 15: People watch France playing Croatia in the World Cup final as it is being broadcast from the Ballyhoo Media boat setup in the Intracoastal Waterway on July 15, 2018 in Miami Beach, Florida. France beat Croatia 4-2 during the game that was held in Moscow, Russia. Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP JOE RAEDLE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
INDIA: Fans of Argentina and Lionel Messi watch La Albiceleste play France from Kolkata
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19 Jul 2018
Argentina and Lionel Messi fans watch on a screen the FIFA 2018 World Cup last 16 football match between Argentina and France, in Kolkata on June 30, 2018. France won Argentina 4-3. / AFP / -
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SENEGAL: Supporters in Dakar ensure they have the best view to watch Senegal and Colombia on a giant screen
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19 Jul 2018
TOPSHOT - Senegalese supporters watch the Russia 2018 World Cup Group H football match between Senegal and Colombia on a giant screen at a fanzone in Dakar on June 28, 2018. / AFP / SEYLLOU
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SYRIA: Displaced Syrians watch a match from Russia 2018 in Ain Issa camp in Raqqa province
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19 Jul 2018
TOPSHOT - Displaced Syrians watch World Cup soccer match in Ain Issa camp in Raqqa province on June 17, 2018. / AFP / Delil SOULEIMAN
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KOREA REPUBLIC: Fans display the national flag when watching the team face against Sweden at Gwanghwamun square in Seoul
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19 Jul 2018
South Korean football fans display the national flag during a street cheering event for their team's 2018 World Cup match against Sweden at Gwanghwamun square in Seoul on June 18, 2018. / AFP / Jung Yeon-je
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ENGLAND: Fans celebrate after England score the first goal against Sweden in the quarter-final
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19 Jul 2018
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: England football fans celebrate after England scored the first goal in the England V Sweden quater final match in the FIFA 2018 World Cup Finals at Croydon Boxpark on July 7, 2018 in London, England. World Cup fever is building among England fans after reaching the quater finals in Russia. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
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GERMANY: Supporters cheer on the Fanmeile in Berlin to watch Korea Republic against Germany
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19 Jul 2018
Supporters of the German national football team cheer as they attend a public viewing event at the Fanmeile in Berlin to watch the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between South Korea and Germany on June 27, 2018. / AFP / John MACDOUGALL
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HAITI: Men watch the Russia 2018 quarter-final between Brazil and Belgium in Port-au-Prince
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19 Jul 2018
Haitian men watch the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Brazil and Belgium in a neigborhood of Port-au-Prince on July 6, 2018. / AFP / HECTOR RETAMAL
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BELGIUM: Supporters watch the Russia 2018 quarter-final between Brazil and Belgium in Brussels
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19 Jul 2018
Belgian supporters watch the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Brazil and Belgium, in Brussels, on July 6, 2018. Belgium OUT / AFP / BELGA / NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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MOZAMBIQUE: Residents of the village of Alua watch the Russia 2018 quarter-finals
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19 Jul 2018
Residents of the northern Mozambique village of Alua watch a live broadcasting of the Football World Cup quarter final match organised by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development with Mozambican organisations as part of Cinemarena on July 6, 2018 in Alua, Mozambique. / AFP / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA
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FRANCE: Fans react during the World Cup Final between France and Croatia in Paris
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19 Jul 2018
People react as they gather on July 15, 2018 to watch the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia, in the "Le Carillon" bar where the attacks of November 2015 took place in Paris.
/ AFP / Lucas BARIOULET
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TUNISIA: Fans watch Tunisia face England on a giant screen at the Roman Amphitheatre of El Jem
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19 Jul 2018
Tunisian fans watch the Russia 2018 World Cup Group G football match between Tunisia and England on a giant screen at the Roman Amphitheatre of El Jem, in southern Tunisia, on June 18, 2018. / AFP / BECHIR TAIEB
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SOMALIA: Football fans watch the Opening Match of Russia 2018 in Mogadishu
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19 Jul 2018
Somali people watch the first match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Russia and Saudi Arabia on TV in Mogadishu, on June 15, 2018. / AFP / Mohamed ABDIWAHAB
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MONGOLIA: Mongolian men watch the Russia 2018 Final in a traditional Mongolian tent
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19 Jul 2018
Mongolian men watch the final of the 2018 World Cup between France and Croatia in a traditional Mongolian tent, in Songini Khairkhan district, 55 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia on July 15, 2018. / AFP / BYAMBASUREN BYAMBA-OCHIR
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BANGLADESH: Fans watch the Russia 2018 Round of 16 match between France and Argentina in Dhaka
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19 Jul 2018
Bangladeshi football fans watch the Russia 2018 World Cup football round of sixteen match between France and Argentina on a big screen in Dhaka on June 30, 2018. / AFP / REHMAN ASAD
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THAILAND: A crowd of people watch the Russia 2018 Final outside restaurant in the southern province of Narathiwat
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19 Jul 2018
A crowd of Thai Muslim people watch outside the restaurant a live television broadcast of the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat on July 15, 2018. / AFP / Madaree TOHLALA
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ARGENTINA: Fans in Buenos Aires watch Argentina play Iceland
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19 Jul 2018
Fans of Argentina watch the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 match between Argentina and Iceland on a large screen at San Martin square in Buenos Aires on June 16, 2018. / AFP / ALEJANDRO PAGNI
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BRAZIL: Fans celebrate the Brazil's second goal against Mexico in northern Rio de Janeiro
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19 Jul 2018
TOPSHOT - Fans of Brazil celebrate the team's second goal as they watch the World Cup match between Brazil and Mexico on a big screen set on Alzira Brandao street in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 2, 2018. Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 to qualify for World Cup quarter-finals. / AFP / Mauro PIMENTEL
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IRAN: Fans watch Portugal and Iran at Azadi stadium in Tehran
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19 Jul 2018
Iranians watch the World Cup Group B soccer match between Portugal and Iran at Azadi stadium in Tehran on June 25, 2018. / AFP / ATTA KENARE
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ICELAND: Supporters perform a viking clap as they watch Iceland play Croatia in the centre of Reykjavik
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19 Jul 2018
Supporters of the Icelandic national football team react as they watch on a giant screen the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Iceland and Croatia on June 26, 2018 at Ingolfstorg square in the centre of Reykjavik. / AFP / Halldor KOLBEINS
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JAPAN: Supporters watch Japan take on Belgium at a public screening in Tokyo
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19 Jul 2018
Japanese supporters, watch a public viewing of the 2018 World Cup Russia round of 16 football match between Japan and Belgium, in Tokyo early July 3, 2018. / AFP / Toshifumi KITAMURA
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MEXICO: Fans watch Mexico and Sweden in Mexico City
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19 Jul 2018
Fans of Mexico attend the broadcasting of the 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Mexico and Sweden, at a public event at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, on June 27, 2018. / AFP / JOHAN ORDONEZ
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2 - Hosting the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2018
Barely had the celebrations in tribute to that historic title died down than another World Cup was kicking off. But where? In France, of course! The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup is currently being held in Brittany. The four host cities - Concarneau, Dinan-Lehon, Saint-Malo and Vannes - have pulled out all the stops to provide a suitably warm welcome for the 16 teams and their supporters.
No doubt inspired by their compatriots, Les Bleuettes have started the competition strongly, advancing serenely to the semi-finals.
3 - Qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019
Not to be left out, the men’s U-19 team also got in on the action by reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA European U-19 Championship in Finland. They may have fallen short against Italy but, thanks to their strong showing, Les Bleuets - managed by Bernard Diomede, yet another world champion back in 1998 - have secured their place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019. “What is satisfying is to have reached the semi-finals and to have qualified for the World Cup, whereas big countries such as Spain, Germany, England, Belgium and the Netherlands won’t be there,” admitted Diomede.
4 - The countdown to France 2019: one year to go
Whatever happens, 2019 promises to be another memorable 12 months for French football, with the country set to host the FIFA Women's World Cup. With a year to go, the most prestigious event in women’s football is already starting to take shape. In recent months, FIFA and the Local Organising Committee have unveiled the Official Mascot - a young chicken named Ettie, the daughter of France 1998 mascot Footix -, launched the Volunteer Programme, and announced the match schedule for the finals.
FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019
5 - Back at the summit
Last but not least, French football fans have received yet another piece of good news, with the men’s senior team claiming first position in the August 2018 edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Les Bleus have thereby reclaimed top spot in the global list for the first time since 2002. “This ranking is extremely satisfying, given the work that we have put in over the last few years,” declared national team boss Didier Deschamps.
“This first place is therefore a reward for a continuous evolution,” he added. “We have achieved it with an extremely young group, since 14 of the 23 world champions had never played at a major international tournament before travelling to Russia.” However, he also sounded a warning to his team regarding their recent successes: “Now we know what lies ahead of us. The French team were much anticipated wherever they played, and will be even more so now.”
On top of the world
Now on top of the #FIFARanking
Congratulations @FrenchTeam ?? pic.twitter.com/J2suyjl0zm
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) August 16, 2018
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Source: fifa.com