Fernandez - remember the good times (Allsport)

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Paris St Germain coach Luis Fernandez on Tuesday urged France supporters not to lose sight of the good times enjoyed under Roger Lemerre as the search for a scapegoat began after the national team's World Cup failure.

Former France midfielder Fernandez, a veteran of the 1986 World Cup team, pointed to Zinedine Zidane's injury torment as the chief reason behind reigning champions France flopping in the first round.

After Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Denmark's hands, coach Lemerre refused to talk about his future, saying: "It is not the problem of Roger Lemerre. It has not entered my thoughts."

With the search for a scapegoat already started in France, after 'Les Bleus' took just one point from a group comprising themselves, Senegal, the Danes and Uruguay, Fernandez said: "It is a big disappointment but that's soccer.

"Denmark were well organised and as I have said, you have to respect your opponent. If not, you lose.

"Senegal and Denmark are good squads with good strikers and they played well.

"I think if Zidane was at 100%, we would have won three games.

"However, we cannot burn the past.

"France have won two titles, don't forget that. I know in France that when something doesn't work, people forget the past."

The country was stunned into early morning silence as the curtain came down on France's campaign, as Dennis Rommedahl and Jon Dahl Tomasson got the decisive goals in Incheon, a match the French needed to win by two goals to advance.

A sense of disbelief swept through Paris, where thousands had gathered in front of big screens to witness what they hoped would be a revival of fortunes. Zidane was passed fit to play his first match, but only briefly impressed on the Danish midfield.

Didier Deschamps, who captained the 1998 team to the title, watched in horror.

"The French team did not express their true ability," he said. "We were not at 100%. I feel a great sense of sadness. It's a bitter pill to swallow."

And former striker Jean-Pierre Papin, now on Marseille's coaching staff, was stunned at France's meek defence of their crown.

Despite boasting league top-scorers from France's Le Championnat, Italy's Serie A and England's Premiership, they will return goal-less.

"I can't believe it," said Papin. "I am surprised as we have the best scorers in our team and no goals.

"I don't want to criticise because I know the World Cup, the [pre-World Cup] games against Russia and Belgium at the Stade de France gave me a bad taste before Asia. I am disappointed, very sad."

The French league's [LNF] temporary president, Frederic Thiriez, echoed the calls of many for the thirty-somethings to stand down from international football.

"I am very sad for the squad and for France," he said.

"It is the end of an era. Roger Lemerre and Claude Simonet have to build something else with the Espoirs [France's Under-21s] for example."

But that point of view was not held by everyone and Alain Giresse, a key member of the French team at the 1982 and 1986 finals, believes an overhaul is not yet necessary.

He was critical of performances, but believed tiredness rather than a lack of ability was the cause.

"The team lacked will and freshness. Their energy seemed spent," he told radio station France Info.

But he added: "It took many years to build a team capable of winning the World Cup in 1998 so we shouldn't be tempted to revolutionise the team."

Sports minister Jean-Frangois Lamour was confident that Tuesday's sorry exit should not mean France lose their status as a footballing super-power.

"I am confident for the future," he said.

"We are going to find solutions to rebound from this. We can not forget the past, France gave us pleasure and so much satisfaction.

"I am sure we will find a way to be the best again."