France Lost a Semifinal for The First Time in 28 Years
Unbeaten in their last nine semifinals, France ended their magnificent streak at this stage with their elimination by Spain in EURO 2024, being defeated at this phase of the competition for the first time in 28 years, since the 1996 continental tournament when they were beaten 6-5 on penalties by the Czech Republic.
Back then, on June 26, 1996, at the iconic Old Trafford in Manchester, with Aimé Jacquet leading the French team, after a 0-0 draw in the first 90 minutes and the subsequent extra time, the penalty shootout decided the match against France with the twelfth shot, missed by Reynald Pedros. Before that, everyone had scored.
The "bleu" team left the tournament, eliminated, with a squad that included Bernard Lama in goal; Lilian Thuram, Laurent Blanc, and Bixente Lizarazu in defense; Marcel Desailly in midfield; and Zinedine Zidane and Youri Djorkaeff ahead of him, among others. Two years later, they became world champions in 1998, and four years later, European champions in 2000.
Since then and until their exit from Germany 2024 against Spain, France had been unbeatable in every semifinal, invincible to each and every one of their opponents, starting from their victory in the 1998 World Cup against Croatia by 2-1, with two goals from Lilian Thuram, to their 3-0 win over Brazil in the final.
They won them all: on June 28, 2000, in the EURO against Portugal by 2-1; on June 7, 2001, by 2-1 against Brazil; on June 26, 2003, by 3-2 against Turkey, in both Confederations Cup matches; on July 5, 2006, in the World Cup in Germany by 0-1 against Portugal; on July 7, 2016, in the EURO in France by 0-2 against Germany; on July 10, 2018, in the World Cup in Russia by 1-0 against Belgium; on October 7, 2021, in the Nations League by 2-3 against Belgium; and on December 14, 2022, in the World Cup by 2-0 against Morocco, although they later lost the final against Argentina in the penalty shootout.
