Barthez's woe means the end of France's reign (Allsport)

France's route to world football supremacy started with a convincing 3-0 win in their World Cup opener against South Africa in June 1998.

From Marseille's Velodrome it was a happy few weeks that led to Paris in July and millions on the Champs Elysee after beating Brazil in the final at the Stade de France.

David Trezeguet's golden goal winner over Italy at Euro 2000 saw more glory heaped on Les Bleus.

But France's fall from grace has been as rapid as it was unexpected with only sterile performances in World Cup warm-ups against Belgium and Russia giving any hint of what was to come.

Here is the rise and fall of France:

France 98

Group Stage

12/6/98 - France 3 South Africa 0

18/6/98 - France 4 Saudi Arabia 0

24/6/98 - France 2 Denmark 1

Second round

28/6/98 - France 1 Paraguay 0 (aet)

Quarter-final

3/7/98 - Italy 0 France 0 (France win 4-3 on penalties)

Semi-final

8/7/98 - France 2 Croatia 1

Final

12/7/98 - Brazil 0 France 3

Friendlies

19/9/98 - Austria 2 France 2

20/1/99 - France 1 Morocco 0

10/2/99 - England 0 France 2

18/8/99 - Northern Ireland 0 France 1

13/11/99 - France 3 Croatia 0

23/2/00 - France 1 Poland 0

29/3/00 - Scotland 0 France 2

26/4/00 - France 3 Slovenia 2

28/5/00 - Croatia 0 France 2

4/6/00 - France 2 Japan 2

6/6/00 - Morocco 1 France 5

2/9/00 - France 1 England 1

4/10/00 - France 1 Cameroon 1

7/10/00 - South Africa 0 France 0

15/11/00 - Turkey 0 France 4

27/2/01 - France 1 Germany 0

24/3/01 - France 5 Japan 0

28/3/01 - Spain 2 France 1

25/4/01 - France 4 Portugal 0

30/5/01 - South Korea 0 France 5

1/6/01 - France 0 Australia 1

3/6/01 - Mexico 0 France 4

7/6/01 - France 2 Brazil 1

10/6/01 - Japan 0 France 1

15/8/01 - France 1 Denmark 0

1/9/01 - Chile 2 France 1

11/11/01 - Australia 1 France 1

13/2/02 - France 2 Romania 1

27/3/02 - France 5 Scotland 0

17/4/02 - France 0 Russia 0

18/5/02 - France 1 Belgium 2

26/5/02 - South Korea 2 France 3

Euro 2000

Qualifying

5/9/98 - Iceland 1 France 1

10/10/98 - Russia 2 France 3

14/10/98 - France 2 Andorra 0

27/3/99 - France 0 Ukraine 0

31/3/99 - France 2 Armenia 0

5/6/99 - France 2 Russia 3

9/6/99 - Andorra 0 France 1

4/9/99 - Ukraine 0 France 0

8/9/99 - Armenia 2 France 3

9/10/99 - France 3 Iceland 2

Group stage

11/6/00 - France 3 Denmark 0

16/6/00 - Czech Republic 1 France 2

21/6/00 - France 2 Holland 3

Quarter-final

25/6/00 - Spain 1 France 2

Semi-final

28/6/00 - France 2 Portugal 1 (aet)

Final

2/7/00 - France 2 Italy 1 (aet)

Japan/South Korea 2002

Group Stage

31/5/02 - France 0 Senegal 1

6/6/02 - France 0 Uruguay 0

11/6/02 - Denmark 2 France 0