On the lawn of the Chateau de Clairefontaine—where the French national team has its central hub—there stands a gigantic replica of the World Cup trophy. The players take no notice of it any more. It may stand as a tribute to the country’s greatest sporting triumph, but its pertinence has somewhat waned given that 18 years have now passed since it was lifted by Les Blues. It is, in essence, a historical artefact.
Indeed, the modern history of French football can be fragmented into two contrasting parts. Around the turn of the millennium the country’s national team were the predominant force in the international game, sampling glory at the 2000 European Championship as well as the World Cup two years previously.