Football: those years when the France team lost at least three official matches

Raymond Domenech and Franck Ribéry during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

AFP - GIANLUIGI GUERCIA

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

4 mins

Beaten by Denmark on September 25, the French football team lost a third match in official competition in 2022. Such a record over a calendar year has only happened four times to the French: in 1966, in 1981 , in 2008 and 2010. Four less than rosy years for the Blues.

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1966, an expedited World Cup and a negative series

During the 1960s, the French football team was still far from being what it had become during the 1990s and 2000s: a dominant selection.

Evidenced by his hasty participation in the 1966 World Cup. Eight years after a beautiful 1958 World Cup (3rd place) but four years after missing the 1962 edition, the Blues return to the final phase full of hope.

They leave England just as dry, after a 1-1 draw against Mexico, and defeats against the Uruguayans (2-1) and the English (2-0).

In total, they chained seven games without a win in 1966. At the time, this kind of negative series was still common for them.

It was indeed necessary to wait about ten years for French football to regain center stage, whether through the epic of AS Saint-Etienne in the European Cup or the return of the Blues to the European Cup. world (in 1978).

1981, year of transition

The beginning of the 1980s is a good illustration of the transition that the French football team went through: attractive in attack with attacking talents like Michel Platini, Alain Giresse, Dominique Rocheteau and Didier Six, but fragile in defense (12 goals conceded in 8 matches in 1981);

strong at home with three wins in four games at the Parc des Princes, but fragile away with setbacks in Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland.

Assessment of these 12 months: 3 victories and 5 defeats.

Despite these mixed results, the Blues narrowly qualified for the 1982 World Cup. An edition where they finished fourth, after a legendary semi-final lost in Seville against Germany (5-4 TAB, 3- 3 PA).

► To read also: World Cup 2018: French football at the top after 60 years of roller coaster

2008, the marriage proposal and the smell of blood

Two years after a 2006 World Cup final lost to Italy, the atmosphere has radically changed in the France team.

Zinédine Zidane retired and Raymond Domenech remained sole master on board.

But the results are no longer there.

The Blues emerged from the first round of a sad Euro 2008, after a draw against Romania (0-0), a rout against the Netherlands (4-1) and a loss against Italian rivals (2- 0).

Annoyed by this elimination, the coach proposes to his partner, journalist Estelle Denis, directly after the match against Italy.

Despite the ensuing criticism, the technician clings to his post.

Including after a defeat two months later, in Austria, in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. During the next press briefing, Domenech joked about the many journalists present, attracted by " 

 ", according to him.

“

,” he says.

The French record that year: 6 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats.

2010, a strike and a fiasco in mondovision

If this is not the worst year in the history of the France team, it is not far from it.

Qualified in the controversy against Ireland for the World Cup – thanks to a handball by Thierry Henry on a decisive goal by William Gallas – the Blues made a fool of themselves the following year, in South Africa.

First of all with a training strike decreed by the players in support of Nicolas Anelka, expelled from the group following the publication in the press of insults towards Raymond Domenech.

Then with an exit in the first round of the 2010 World Cup (2 losses, 1 draw).

A week after this fiasco, the president of the French Federation Jean-Pierre Escalettes resigns.

Domenech, he is fired in stride.

Several players, notably Anelka and captain Patrice Evra, are excluded for several meetings.

Summary of the 13 matches of the tricolors in 2010: 6 defeats, 2 draws and 5 wins.

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