1998 World Cup Round of 16 – France 1–0 Paraguay
Les Bleus: Three-time world champions and European giants.
The France national football team represents France in men's international football. It is overseen by the French Football Federation (FFF), the governing body for football in France. It is a member of UEFA in Europe and FIFA in global competitions. The team's colours and imagery reference two national symbols: the Flag of France and Gallic rooster (coq gaulois). The team is colloquially known as Les Bleus (The Blues). They play home matches at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and train at Centre National du Football in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines.
Quick Facts
- Score
- France 1 – 0 Paraguay
- Goal scorer
- Nicolas Anelka (61')
- Competition
- 1998 FIFA World Cup – Round of 16
- Venue
- Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
- France manager
- Aimé Jacquet
- Tournament context
- France's home World Cup; they went on to win the title
Lore & Background
Founded in 1904, the national team has won two FIFA World Cups, two UEFA European Championships, one CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, two FIFA Confederations Cups and one UEFA Nations League title. France was one of the four European teams that participated in the first World Cup in 1930. Twenty-eight years later, the team led by Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine finished in third place at the 1958 World Cup. France experienced much of its success in three different eras: in the 1980s, the late 1990s to early 2000s, and the late 2010s to early 2020s.
Reader's Guide
In the 1998 World Cup round of 16, France defeated Paraguay 1–0. The match was scoreless after 90 minutes. Laurent Blanc scored the winning goal in the 114th minute of extra time.
Did You Know?
- France won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 under the captaincy of Didier Deschamps, with Zinedine Zidane being the star player.
- France is one of two countries, the other being Brazil, to have won every FIFA men's 11-player competition at every age level.
- France became the first, and so far, the only European national team to have won every senior FIFA and UEFA competition after winning the 2021 Nations League.
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