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Group
1
Following
the UEFA EURO 2004 qualifying draw France had every reason to
be confident.
The then coach Roger Lemerre admitted his side had been given
a "favourable draw" after being pitted against
Slovenia, Cyprus, Israel and Malta in Group 1. However, most
attention was on memories of the last major meeting between
the French and Israelis. On that occasion a shock home defeat
helped deny France a place in the 1994 FIFA World Cup finals.
Slovenia also had every right to be confident after reaching
the finals of EURO 2000™ but it was the French, as reigning
champions, who were strongly tipped - in the event justifiably
so. Despite the disappointment of exiting the 2002 World Cup
finals at the first-round stage, Les Bleus bounced back in
style under new coach Jacques Santini. They won every one of
their eight qualifiers, scoring 29 goals and conceding just
two. They only had to come from behind once, to win 2-1 in
their first fixture in Cyprus.
Slovenia began their campaign in style, seeing off Malta 3-0
at home to suggest that they were likely to provide the most
serious threat to the French. However, their challenge was
disrupted in October when France put five past them without
reply. Israel began their campaign the same day with a 2-0
success in Malta. Later that month, France won 4-0 against
Malta to confirm their superiority before the Maltese went
down again at the hands of Cyprus.
In the spring, France and Slovenia both won twice in
succession while Israel maintained their push by beating
Cyprus and then drawing 0-0 at home against Slovenia. However,
the Israeli challenge for second place was then all but ended
by Slovenia who, inspired by Zlatko Zahovic, beat them 3-1 at
home. France, meanwhile, maintained their dominance with a 5-0
win over Cyprus. Israel were then held to a 2-2 draw at home
to Malta thus ending their hopes of reaching the play-offs.
France's final test was passed with flying colours as they
beat Slovenia 2-0 in Ljubljana, David Trezeguet and Oliver
Dacourt scoring the goals that sealed their passage to
Portugal and condemned Slovenia to the play-offs with a match
to spare. On the final day, with little to play for, the
French sealed the only 100 per cent record in all ten groups
by beating Israel 3-0 while Cyprus drew 2-2 with Slovenia, who
were paired with neighbours Croatia in the play-offs two days
later. - UEFA.com
| Slovenia |
3-0 |
Malta |
07/09/02 |
Debono
og 37
Siljak 59
Cimerotic 90 |
|
| Cyprus |
1-2 |
France |
07/09/02 |
| Okkas
15 |
Cisse
38
Wiltord 52 |
| France |
5-0 |
Slovenia |
12/10/02 |
Vieira
10
Marlet 35, 64
Wiltord 79
Govou 86 |
|
| Malta |
0-2 |
Israel |
12/10/02 |
| |
Balili
56
Revivo 77 |
| Malta |
0-4 |
France |
16/10/02 |
| |
Henry
25, 36
Wiltord 59
Carriere 85 |
| Cyprus |
2-1 |
Malta |
20/11/02 |
Rauffmann
50
Okkas 74 |
n/a |
| Cyprus |
1-1 |
Israel |
29/03/03 |
| Rauffmann
61 |
Afek
1 |
| France |
6-0 |
Malta |
29/03/03 |
Wiltord
37
Henry 39, 54
Zidane pen 57, 90
Trezeguet 70 |
|
| Slovenia |
4-1 |
Cyprus |
02/04/03 |
Siljak
4, 14
Zahovic 39 pen
Cah 43 |
Konstantinou
9 |
| Israel |
1-2 |
France |
02/04/03 |
| Afek
2 |
Trezeguet
23
Zidane 45 |
| Malta |
1-3 |
Slovenia |
30/04/03 |
| Mifsud
90 |
Zahovic
15
Saljak 37
Ceh 58 |
| Israel |
2-0 |
Cyprus |
30/04/03 |
Badir
88
Holtzman 90 |
|
| Israel |
0-0 |
Slovenia |
07/06/03 |
| |
|
| Malta |
1-2 |
Cyprus |
07/06/03 |
| Dimech
72 |
Constantinou
23 pen, 54 |
| France |
5-0 |
Cyprus |
06/09/03 |
Trezeguet
8, 80
Wiltord 18, 40
Henry 58 |
|
| Slovenia |
3-1 |
Israel |
06/09/03 |
Siljak
35
Knavs 37
Ceh 76 |
Revivo
67 |
| Israel |
2-2 |
Malta |
10/09/03 |
Revivo
15
Pini Balili 78 |
Mifsud
50
Carabott 52 |
| Slovenia |
0-2 |
France |
10/09/03 |
| |
Trezeguet
11
Dacourt 73 |
| Cyprus |
2-2 |
Slovenia |
11/10/03 |
Georgiou
71
Giasemi 80 |
Siljak
7, 24 |
| France |
3-0 |
Israel |
11/10/03 |
Henry
8
Trezeguet 25
Boumsong 42 |
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