Next up in our look at the runners and riders chasing glory at Euro 2008 are two-time European champions France.

FRANCE

Current FIFA ranking

7 (between the Czech Republic and Greece)

Route to finals

France found themselves paired with 2006 World Cup final opponents Italy in Qualifying Group B and they gained a measure of revenge for their penalty shootout defeat with a 3-1 win at the Stade de France.

Two surprise 1-0 defeats at the hands of Scotland then threw their qualification into jeopardy, until Italy's 2-1 win at Hampden Park secured second place in the group for Raymond Domenech's men, who signed off with a 2-2 draw away in the Ukraine.

International pedigree

The history of France's national team is the story of two great teams: the mid-1980s side of Michel Platini and the late-1990s equivalent synonymous with Zinedine Zidane.

A World Cup semi-final appearance in 1958 was their best international showing until the 1984 European Championships, when three-time European Footballer of the Year Platini inspired his team-mates to victory in swashbuckling style.

Zidane was the hero in 1998 when hosts France lifted the World Cup after a 3-0 victory over pre-tournament favourites Brazil, and two years later they confirmed their status as the first great international side of the 21st century with a golden goal triumph over Italy in the final of Euro 2000.

Coach

An outspoken and controversial figure, Raymond Domenech won over some of the doubters by taking an ageing French side to the final of the last World Cup but has provoked consternation by falling out with high-profile stars such as Robert Pires and David Trezeguet.

After a playing career with Lyon and Strasbourg that saw him win eight international caps he moved into management with FC Mulhouse before taking up the reins at Lyon.

He made his name as a coach during an 11-year stint in charge of the French Under-21 side that ended when he took over as coach of Les Bleus in 2004.

Familiar faces

The French squad reads like a Who's Who of European football, with heavily decorated stars like Lilian Thuram, Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry lining up alongside highly rated young guns such as Lyon striker Karim Benzema and immensely talented Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.

Potential stars

Domenech's first XI (see below) will probably be made up of established stars, but keep an eye out for Marseille playmaker Samir Nasri, who is thought to be close to a move to Arsene Wenger's Arsenal.

Chances

Strong. They have the quality to progress from a difficult group and a beautifully balanced blend of youth and experience that could take them all the way.

Ribery goes into the tournament off the back of a stellar debut season at Bayern Munich, but fellow forwards Henry and Florent Malouda are both lacking form after struggling to adapt to life at their new clubs.

Possible starting XI

Gregory Coupet (Lyon); Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona), William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona); Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Patrick Vieira (Internazionale), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich); Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Thierry Henry (Barcelona)

Back-ups

Goalkeepers: Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina), Steve Mandanda (Marseille); Defenders: Jean-Alain Boumsong (Lyon), Francois Clerc (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Lyon), Patrice Evra (Manchester United); Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Samir Nasri (Marseille); Forwards: Karim Benzema (Lyon), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne)

Group C fixtures

09/06/2008: Romania

13/06/2008: Netherlands

17/06/2008: Italy

Tom Williams / Eurosport