It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly a quarter-century since France last lifted the UEFA European Championship trophy. For a nation with such a rich footballing history, the quest for European glory has been a tale of near-misses and heartbreak since their triumph at Euro 2000. In recent years, Les Bleus have shone on the global stage, reaching the last two FIFA World Cup finals back-to-back, winning the first in Russia before losing the second to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Qatar.
However, sandwiched between those two successes was a shocking second-round exit at the hands of Switzerland at Euro 2020.
The Glory of Euro 2000
When France won Euro 2000, it was a period of immense national pride. The team, led by captain Didier Deschamps – who of course is the current manager of the team – and featuring stars like Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, and David Trezeguet, showcased a blend of flair, resilience, and tactical brilliance. They headed to the tournament as the reigning world champions, and their golden goal victory over Italy in the final in Brussels secured an imperious double.
This summer, they have been made a 4/1 joint favourite by a popular pari sportif website – or sports betting to you, me, and anyone else who doesn’t speak French – to win Euro 2024. Led by the talismanic Kylian Mbappé and supported by Atlético Madrid ace Antoine Griezmann, there’s a very real chance that a quarter-century of pain – at least continental – could be set to come to an end.
🧵 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃: Dimitri Payet at EURO 2016 🤩
🇫🇷 This golazo in the opening game! 🔥#FlashbackFriday | @dimpayet17 | @FrenchTeam pic.twitter.com/CJVBQLnbmU
The Agony of Euro 2016
The narrative took a dramatic turn in 2016 when France hosted the Euros. Playing on home soil, Les Bleus were one of the favourites to lift the trophy and with former captain Deschamps now the manager, the hosts seemed to have turned a corner. West Ham United star Dimitri Payet became the lynchpin, netting a last-gasp thunderbolt in their opening game against Romania, setting the table for what was to come.
The aforementioned Grizou then took over. He netted six goals throughout the course of the tournament, food enough to secure the Golden Boot Award and lead his team all the way to the final. There they met an unheralded Portugal side, a team that became even less fancied when their iconic captain and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo was injured and had to be substituted in the first half.
However, with Les Bleus seemingly the clear favourites, they couldn’t find a way through a stubborn Portuguese defence anchored by Pepe. That allowed the contest to drift into extra time.
Redemption in 2024?
France have waited eight long years for redemption at the Euros, and this summer they will be aiming to secure exactly that. The bookies make them a genuine contender and with early favourites England doing little to impress, the door is wide open for a French victory. Will they be able to walk through it and be crowned champions for the first time in 24 years? We will soon find out.
