Zidane - a true star on his way home (Allsport)

By Stephen Joyce, sportinglife.com

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The last time the world champions failed to reach the second round of the World Cup, there was widespread international mourning.

Twice World Cup winners Brazil failed to complete the hat-trick in swinging England of 1966.

But on that occasion, the champions were undone by brutal tackling which saw Pele limp out of the tournament and Brazil were left with a meagre victory over Bulgaria to show for the troubled defence of their crown.

Football fans everywhere felt deprived as Portuguese hard men had spoiled their World Cup enjoyment.

With Pele and Garrincha on a plane back to Rio, the World Cup's golden sheen seemed a bit tarnished even after England's famous victory.

While a limping Pele represented Brazil's sinking hopes back then, a shuffling half-fit Zidane represented France's doomed challenge against the Danes.

With his heavily strapped thigh and a minimal amount of training in the last fortnight, Zidane began France's vital Group A showdown at little more than walking pace.

He appeared to have been picked solely to give the other players, who admire him so much, an enormous lift to tackle the mountainous task ahead of them.

And when his exquisite overhead flick past a bemused Thomas Gravesen ended with the laboured Danish grafter catching him up in half a dozen yards and getting a tackle in.

But two memorable back-heels that sent David Trezeguet and Sylvain Wiltord through on goal and instant spin and curling shot that flew inches wide showed what France and the rest of us had been missing in the opening two matches.

Six efforts against the woodwork proved France's luck was out when they needed it most but there was also errors by coach Roger Lemerre that helped them on their way.

Frank Leboeuf was a ridiculous choice at centre-back for the start of the tournament which exiled the more youthful and more focussed Lilian Thuram to right-back.

Only an injury to the former Chelsea stopper in match two allowed Lemerre to switch Thuram and bring in the attacking Vincent Candela at full-back.

Youri Djorkaeff, who had slipped so far from grace that he was forced to take a loan move to Bolton after Christmas, was a nightmare as Zidane's understudy while the exciting new striking talent of Djibril Cisse was left to be a desperate last throw of the dice in all three matches.

Lemerre eventually paid the penalty for letting the old guard rule his head.

England have been gloating at the quality of their young talent yet their under-21s had failed time and again at international level while France's youngsters continued to be threat in any competition they entered.

Yet Lemerre seemed reluctant to select them, even for a tournament to be played in energy-sapping heat and intense humidity.

Lemerre, despite being awarded a new two-year deal only weeks ago, may be under pressure to go and few French fans will have regrets.

It must also be time to go for the thirtysomethings while the likes of Trezeguet and Wiltord have shown they fall below the highest class needed at this level of competition.

But this au revoir was an occasion for mourning for one man - Zidane.

Fresh from his wonder strike in the Champions' League final, for half an hour, when he forgot about his damaged thigh and before his wind ran out, ZZ played the game at a level the other 21 could only dream of.

He certainly will be sadly missed.