Manager: Raymond Domenech

Key player: Franck Ribery

Best: Winners (1998)

World ranking: 7

Having finished a point behind Serbia in Group Seven the French, led by Raymond Domenech, were paired with Republic of Ireland in the play-offs. A 1-0 win in Ireland was followed by a game of huge talking points in France, with the Irish going in front through Robbie Keane and taking the tie to extra-time. France won it, but with a goal from William Gallas that came from a blatant handball from Thierry Henry.

Controversial it may be but France will be in South Africa this summer and it would be naive to assume they are not capable of going far because of the circumstances surrounding their qualification. The side is packed with talent, including Manchester United's Patrice Evra and Gallas of Arsenal in defence, Real Madrid "water-carrier" Lassana Diarra and Bayern Munich's mercurial Franck Ribery in midfield and Nicolas Anelka of Chelsea and Barcelona's Henry up front. However, the jury remains out on coach Domenech, who is widely seen as the reason such an able group of players continue to under-achieve, and for the first time in many years the French are not viewed as certainties for the latter stages.