France are the World Champions having won the World Cup in 1998. They also won Euro 2000 and are one of the favourites to win the World Cup 2002. France have named a strong squad for the World Cup 2002 which includes several star players, including eight playing in the English Premiership.

                         
                                Thierry Henry in the World Cup 1998

The French boss, Roger Lemerre has also said that striker Thierry Henry's knee injury will not keep him out of the World Cup and so Nicolas Anelka should not be needed as a replacement. Robert Pires (Arsenal) injured his knee in March and is not in the squad as he is still injured. The French squad given to FIFA on 21 May was:

Goalkeepers
1. Fabien Barthez (Manchester United)
2. Ulrich Rame (Bordeaux)
3. Gregory Coupet (Lyon)
 

Defenders
4. Vincent Candela (Roma)
5. Marcel Desailly (Chelsea)
6. Frank Leboeuf (Marseille)
7. Lillian Thuram (Juventas)
8. Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United)
9. Bixente Lizarazu (Bayern Munich)
10. Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich)
11. Phillipe Christanval (Barcelona)
 

Midfielders
12. Patrick Viera (Arsenal)
13. Emmanuel Pettit (Chelsea)
14. Youri Djorkaeff (Bolton)
15. Alain Boghossian (Parma)
16. Johan Micoud (Parma)
17. Claude Makelele (Real Madrid)
18. Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

Attackers
19. Christophe Dugarry (Bordeaux)
20. Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal)
21. David Trezeguet (Juventus)
22. Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
23. Djubril Cisse (Auxerre)