In a group featuring Slovenia, Israel, Cyprus and Malta, France were clear favourites to top the table - and a 100% record sent a warning shot to all their rivals. | FRANCE'S PATH TO EURO 2004 Results
07.09.02: Cyprus (a) 2-1
12.10.02: Slovenia (h) 5-0
16.10.02: Malta (a) 4-0
29.03.03: Malta (h) 6-0
02.04.03: Israel (a) 2-1
06.09.03: Cyprus (h) 5-0
10.09.03: Slovenia (a) 2-0
11.10.03: Israel (h) 3-0 |
The European champions were slow off the blocks in their first match, away to Cyprus.
Cyprus took a shock early lead when Yiannakis Okkas chipped goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, before Djibril Cisse and then Sylvain Wiltord completed the comeback.
But normal service resumed in their following two matches with empahtic wins over Slovenia and then Malta, who conceded 10 goals in total, home and away.
Jaques Santini's men were then made to come from behind again, this time against Israel, with David Trezeguet and Zinedine Zidane bailing Les Blues out.
A comfortable victory over Cyprus followed, before wrapping up qualification with a 2-0 victory in Slovenia and completing their perfect record at Paris' Stade de France, against Israel.
During their campaign, Santini's side scored 29 goals and conceded just two.
The side's top-scorer accolade was shared between Arsenal pair Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord and Juventus' David Trezeguet.
| GROUP ONE TABLE |
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| France | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 24 |
| Slovenia | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 14 |
| Israel | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
| Cyprus | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 8 |
| Malta | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 1 |
MMIX
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