How France fared in past finals

1984 UEFA European Championship: France 2-0 Spain
(Platini 57, Bellone 90)
All about the midfield base, as France's 'Carré Magique' (magic square) of Luis Fernández, Alain Giresse, Jean Tigana and Michel Platini flattened all comers on home territory. Spain gave more resistance than most, but were doomed once Platini's free-kick (his ninth goal of the tournament) squirmed through goalkeeper Luis Arconada's grasp at Parc des Princes. Bruno Bellone chipped a late second – the first of France's 14 goals at the finals to be scored by a striker.

"It was a tough match but not the greatest match we ever played," Fernández concluded. "It was very cagey but we lifted the trophy and that was the most important thing. Before, France was a country that didn't know how to win. They used to say the most important thing was taking part; in 1984 we showed people we could win trophies."

1998 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 0-3 France
(Zidane 27 45+1, Petit 90+3)
Hosting the tournament proved a lucky charm again for Les Bleus at the 1998 World Cup. Much of the talk in the run-up to the final was of Brazil's star man Ronaldo, included in the starting lineup despite suffering a convulsive fit on the eve of the match. France, however, utterly dominated at the Stade de France, Zinédine Zidane heading in from two corners in the first half. Marcel Desailly's dismissal was no lifeline for Brazil, Emmanuel Petit making it 3-0 at the death.

"We wanted it more than the Brazilians," midfielder Youri Djorkaeff concluded. "We have been working towards this for four years. This group of players were born for the World Cup. It was very difficult, but we did it. [Coach] Aimé Jacquet was fabulous, he was extraordinary. We all gave that little bit extra, which made the difference."

UEFA EURO 2000: France 2-1 Italy, golden goal
(Wiltord 90, Trezeguet 103; Delvecchio 55)
France became the first world title holders to scoop a EURO, showing in the process they could win championships abroad as well as at home. It was hard going at Rotterdam's Feijenoord Stadion: Sylvain Wiltord cancelled out Marco Delvecchio's Italy opener with time running out, then David Trezeguet came off the bench to beat the impressive Francesco Toldo in extra time, his golden goal stopping the clock.

"All my strength was in that shot," Trezeguet remembered. "It had been a difficult championship for me because I had hoped to play a greater part. At first I was happy for my team-mates; then I was happy for my family; then I was happy for me. We had dreamed of being champions of the world and Europe. It gave me enormous satisfaction and it's a satisfaction I still feel."

2006 FIFA World Cup: Italy 1-1 France, aet, 5-3pens
(Materazzi 19; Zidane 7pen)
Italy avenged that 2000 reversal in Berlin, though Les Bleus can still say they have never beat beaten over 90 (or indeed 120) minutes of a major final. Zidane fired them in front from the spot, Marco Materazzi making amends for conceding the penalty by equalising. In his last France appearance, Zidane was sent off at the end of extra time, Trezeguet missing his penalty in the decisive shoot-out.

"It would be typical French behaviour to be satisfied with being runners-up," fumed coach Raymond Domenech afterwards. "But I'm not satisfied at all. We deserved to be in their place ... I've said it from the start – there is only beauty in winning. You can say what we did wasn't bad, but it's Italy who are champions."