Aside from their success at the 1984 European Championships, France, like Spain, were regarded by many as international football's nearly men.
That viewpoint was altered, though, during a triumphant two-year period. As hosts, Les Bleus won the World Cup at France '98, before going on to back that up by lifting the European Championships trophy two years later.
Despite reaching the World Cup final in 2006, they have struggled to live up that standard since then, but they head to Brazil this summer with some talented youngsters and renewed hope.
Here, to continue our countdown to the World Cup, Sports Mole looks at the top 10 players in the history of French football.
10. Franck Ribery (2006-present, 80 caps, 16 goals)
© Getty Images
Some have suggested that Ribery is overrated, but last year's Ballon d'Or nominee has, at club level at least, won virtually every honour on offer.
After helping Galatasaray to win the Turkish Cup in 2005, he has become a key figure of the highly impressive Bayern Munich squad. With the German club, he has won four Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokals, one Champions League and a World Club Cup.
Where international football is concerned the 31-year-old splits opinion among the French faithful, but he has still turned in some eye-catching performances. His first goal was a particularly memorable one as he scored it in the first knockout round of the 2006 World Cup against Spain.
9. Lilian Thuram (1994-2008, 142 caps, two goals)
© Getty Images
The defender has won trophies in France, Italy and Spain, as well as being a key member of France's golden period. In short, he is highly thought of in his homeland.
Where club football is concerned, the majority of his success came with Juventus, whom he helped to win two Serie A titles and the Italian Super Cup twice.
The now 42-year-old was not known for scoring goals, although the two that he scored for France were crucial ones. With the hosts losing 1-0 in the semi-finals of France '98, Thuram fired in an unexpected brace to send his nation into the final, where they would overcome Brazil. It was a performance that saw him voted into the Team of the Tournament, just as he was two years later when France won the European Championships.
8. Eric Cantona (1987-1995, 45 caps, 20 goals)
© Getty Images
It will come as little surprise to learn that the fiery Cantona's international career was littered with controversy. He fell out with managers - namely Henri Michel and Aime Jacquet - the latter of which cost him the chance of turning out at a major tournament in Euro '96. Nevertheless, he still scored an impressive 20 goals for his country, including both in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Sweden.
After being hounded out of Ligue 1 following a string of incidents, he headed across The Channel, helping Leeds United to win the title in 1992. He then joined Manchester United, where he would become an Old Trafford legend as he spearheaded the club to four Premier League titles and two FA Cups.
His stint with the Red Devils wasn't without strife, but it's fair to say that he is more highly regarded in England than he is in France.
7. Patrick Vieira (1997-2009, 107 caps, six goals)
© Getty Images
Part of France's golden era, in his prime, former Arsenal stalwart Vieira was regarded to be one of the world's best midfielders.
He may not have been a regular starter during France '98, although he did come on as substitute during the final, but he was a key fixture of the side that won the European Championships two years later.
In England, there was not much known of Vieira when he made the switch from AC Milan in 1996, but he soon became a vital cog in Arsene Wenger's machine. He won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, as well as a further four Serie A titles back in Italy with Inter Milan.
6. Jean-Pierre Papin (1986-1995, 54 caps, 30 goals)
© Getty Images
Such was the impression that Papin had made during his six-year spell with Marseille, AC Milan were convinced to part with a world-record fee of £10m to secure his services in 1992 - a huge sum for the time.
The striker failed to establish himself fully at the San Siro, but he'd already proven his quality at both club and international level.
Sadly for a player of his talent, he was member of the French side that has since been branded 'the cursed generation'. With Michel Platini retired and the likes Zinedine Zidane still some way off establishing himself, France often struggled to have an impact or qualify for major tournaments during Papin's prime years.
5. Just Fontaine (1953-1960, 21 caps, 30 goals)
© Getty Images
A much-fancied France may have only finished third at the 1958 World Cup, but Fontaine made a lasting impression on the tournament. He scored 13 goals - a World Cup record that still stands - which included a quartet of strikes during the playoff encounter against West Germany.
His debut for France was also a memorable one as he scored three times against Luxembourg in a 1954 World Cup qualifier.
The 80-year-old's most successful period at club level was spent with Stade de Reims, whom he helped to win the Ligue 1 title on three occasions. He was also the leading goalscorer during the 1958-59 European Cup with 10 goals, although Reims lost to Real Madrid in the final.
4. Thierry Henry (1997-2010, 123 caps, 51 goals)
© Getty Images
With clinical players such as Papin, Platini and Fontaine for company, it's some achievement that Henry is France's leading goalscorer of all time by a 10-goal margin.
Many will remember the handball incident that robbed the Republic of Ireland of a chance of reaching the 2010 World Cup, but there was much more to Henry's international career than that. He scored three goals during France '98 and added another three at Euro 2000. It was also his goal that defeated defending champions Brazil at the quarter-final stage in 2006.
As far as Arsenal fans are concerned, many will feel that he is their best ever player. The current New York Red Bulls frontman is the North Londoners' record goalscorer, having found the net on 228 occasions - helped by the fact that for five successive seasons he scored 30-plus goals.
3. Raymond Kopa (1952-1962, 45 caps, 18 goals)
© Getty Images
To win the Player of the Tournament award at the 1958 World Cup, Kopa had to beat off competition from the likes of Pele, Garrincha and his free-scoring teammate Fontaine. Later that year, he also won the coveted Ballon d'Or.
His performances for France at the highest level would have come as little surprise to Real Madrid supporters, who witnessed the Frenchman lift the European Cup on three occasions in the 1950s alongside Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano.
In 2004, the 82-year-old was named by Pele on his list of the top 125 greatest living footballers of all time.
2. Michel Platini (1976-1987, 72 caps, 41 goals)
© Getty Images
You can say what you want about Platini in his role as head of UEFA, but as a player, there have been few better to have laced up a pair of boots than the 58-year-old.
The midfielder's finest performances for France came during the 1984 European Championships as he guided the hosts to their first major international trophy. Les Bleus scored 14 goals during that tournament, nine of which came from Platini.
He also had success with his three clubs - Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus. It was his goal that helped Juve to win their first ever European Cup against Liverpool in 1985, although the victory was marred by the tragic events inside the Heysel Stadium that saw 39 supporters lose their lives.
1. Zinedine Zidane (1994-2006, 108 caps, 31 goals)
© Getty Images
No player will have experienced such contrasting emotions in two World Cup finals as Zizou. In 1998 he was the hero, scoring two of the three goals that sunk Brazil. He then scored in the showpiece event eight years later against Italy, but was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi as the French were defeated on penalties. It was Zidane's last match as a professional footballer.
It was a sad way to end such a glittering career that included two Serie A title successes with Juventus and a La Liga crown in Spain with Real Madrid.
Among many memorable moments, he reached the summit during the 2002 Champions League final. As the ball dropped out of the sky, Zidane arranged his feet in time to fire an unstoppable volley into the Bayer Leverkusen net - a goal that many regard to be one of the best ever scored in any match.
France will face Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras in the group stages of this summer's World Cup, and you can follow every match live with Sports Mole.
Continuing our 50-day countdown to the tournament, we will be looking at the greatest players in Germany's history tomorrow. You can also see all of the World Cup top 10 lists so far by clicking here.
