1. GK - Fabien Barthez
Fabien Barthez is France's most capped participant within the FIFA World Cup with 17 appearances, and shares the report with Peter Shilton for probably the most clear sheets at finals (10).
During their profitable run in 1998, Barthez conceded simply two objectives in seven video games and was named one of the best goalkeeper on the event. The stopper was completely strong that 12 months, permitting France's midfielders and attackers to really feel assured within the information there was a strong base from which to work from.
2. RB - Willy Sagnol
Willy Sagnol by no means received a World Cup, however is one of the nation's finest ever right-backs.
He got here shut in 2006 however Les Bleus finally misplaced out in a penalty shootout to Italy within the closing.
He began all seven video games en path to the ultimate with the Azzurri and was famous as one of one of the best defenders that 12 months for his consistency within the France backline.
His efficiency on the largest stage was additionally superb, and it was a actual disgrace for him to not get his arms on any silverware.
3. CB - Lilian Thuram
France's most capped participant ever, Lilian Thuram was an integral half of Les Bleus' success within the late '90s.
He was a huge determine on the again for the French in the course of the 12 months they received in 1998, the place they conceded simply two objectives all event, and once more within the 2006 alongside William Gallas, after being requested to return again as half of the 'Golden Generation' with Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele.
4. CB - Marcel Desailly
Marcel Desailly was the captain who led France to glory in 1998, and he was completely imperious alongside Laurent Blanc because the nation ushered in a new period of success, with Euro glory to comply with two years later.
Desailly was a rock on the again; the one blemish being the pink card he obtained within the closing in opposition to Brazil - however by that time, Les Bleus had been already Three-Zero up and out of sight.
5. LB - Bixente Lizarazu
Completing the backline is Bixente Lizarazu, one other wonderful performer on the 1998 World Cup.
The left again was simply as strong as his defensive colleagues that 12 months. There was nothing fancy about Lizarazu - he was simply reliable and labored so properly as half of a collective.
6. CM - Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira made his worldwide debut simply a 12 months earlier than the 1998 triumph. He did not function too closely, however did come on within the closing in opposition to Brazil and laid on an help for Emmanuel Petit.
He featured way more prominently in 2006, firstly taking part in a large half in convincing Zinedine
Zidane to return out of worldwide retirement.
Vieira put in some dominant midfield performances, serving to the staff to succeed in the ultimate the place he sadly needed to go off within the second half as a consequence of harm. Had the warrior stayed on the pitch, the end result may properly have been totally different.
7. CM - Zinedine Zidane
Without doubt the primary title on this listing. Zinedine Zidane might be the best French soccer to have ever lived.
In1998, Zidane scored two objectives in opposition to Brazil within the closing whereas delivering an completely metronomic efficiency in midfielder.
In 2002, he was injured for the primary two video games and his absence actually advised for the French, who crashed out on the group levels with out scoring a single purpose.
Four years later although, Zidane got here out of worldwide retirement to play for France in Germany, and he was at his irrepressible finest throughout. He is answerable for one of probably the most well-known moments in World Cup historical past together with his headbutt on Marco Materazzi leading to a pink card.
It was a minor blemish that may clearly be ignored...
eight. LM - Michel Platini
Probably dishonest a bit together with his place, however Platini makes it in at left midfield as a way to accommodate two strikers. That mentioned, he was identified to float extensive so... permit me!
Platini stays one of the best gamers of all time, and he was completely elegant on the World Cup finals in 1986, scoring two vital objectives.
He did infamously miss his penalty in opposition to Brazil on the quarter-final in Guadalajara, however France nonetheless made it to the semi-finals.
Most impressively, Platini needed to play on pain-killing injections all through the event and was nonetheless wonderful.
9. Raymond Kopa - RM
Raymond Kopa performed within the 1954 and 1958 World Cups, profitable the Young Player of the Tournament and the Player of the Tournament at each - he's the one participant within the historical past of the competitors to do that.
His efficiency on the 1985 event specifically was nothing quick of elegant. He scored three objectives and beat the likes of Pele, Garrincha and Just Fontaine to the Player of the Tournament award.
The Real Madrid attacker was identified for his goalscoring and playmaking skills and was acknowledged by Pele in 2004 as one of the 125 biggest dwelling footballers of all time.
10. ST - Just Fontaine
Just Fontaine will likely be an unknown entity to youthful readers, however there is not any method he might be unnoticed of this staff given his nationwide staff contribution.
Fontaine was finest identified for his goalscoring prowess within the 1950s, and most famously for holds the report for probably the most objectives scored in a single version of the FIFA World Cup with 13 in six matches in 1958. It's a report that also stands at the moment.
He is the fourth highest goalscorer at World Cup finals in historical past, behind Gerd Muller, Miroslav Klose and Ronaldo, however the trio all performed in at the least two tournaments.
11. ST - Thierry Henry
For years Thierry Henry was one of probably the most feared strikers on the planet - not only for Arsenal, however at worldwide degree too.
Barring the 2002 World Cup the place he was pink carded within the second group sport in opposition to Uruguay, Henry at all times shone on the largest stage.
In 1998, he completed as France's high scorer with three objectives, and was maybe unfortunate to not begin the ultimate in opposition to Brazil, with Marcel Desailly getting despatched off and forcing a defensive reshuffle.
In 2006, he began off slowly however went on to develop into one of the gamers of the event, scoring three extra objectives together with one big one in opposition to Brazil within the quarter-final from Zinedine Zidane's cross.
In 2010...properly, we in all probability do not actually need to speak about that exact event.