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France stunned as heroes fall

The anguish of defeat shows on the face of French fans

PARIS, France -- Nowhere was the shock of France's early exit from the World Cup more apparent than in Paris where the wails of disappointment echoed along the Champs Elysees.

For not only have the defending champions fallen at the first hurdle, they made history by being the first reigning world champions to be ousted from the competition without having scored a single goal. (Full story)

"It's a nightmare," said student Jean-Baptiste Golled, as he watched the game on the square in front of City Hall.

"In three matches, France did nothing."

Thousands of fans had stood in misery in front of a vast screen in central Paris as their national heroes lost 2-0 to Denmark.

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The pain etched on French fans' faces was in stark contrast to 1998 when thousands of people flooded the Champs Elysee to celebrate France's World Cup final victory over Brazil.

"World champions and this is all we could manage," said 16-year-old Eddy Remy, who had sneaked off school to watch the match dressed in a France strip.

Raphael Bordes, 16, another student taking a break from his studies in central Paris, said: "It's shameful. We are the champions of the world and we couldn't even manage a goal."

Another fan told Reuters: "This wasn't a team that wanted to win."

Vincent Picard, 21 said: "I feel let down by this team -- they were arrogant, and put on a pathetic show.

"We're supposed to be this mighty team and we couldn't even manage a goal."

Jean-Philippe Tuttle, 17, draped in a French flag, said: "Obviously I'm gutted, though it is not really surprising. We didn't even look as though we wanted to win.

"The team is too arrogant and too pretentious. They thought they had it sewn up. They were too busy thinking about advertising and money."

French journalist Christian Malar told CNN: "I would not say that football here is a religion, as it has been in Brazil, for instance, but it was becoming such a thing.

A Danish fan sums up the situation

"Today is a symbol of defeat ... and I'm sure it will have an impact and we have to draw the lessons from it at all levels."

He added: "Our press has been too self-confident, probably the same way as the French team. The French team has lacked energy and dynamism, it's a team which is getting old and too self-confident -- we are relying too much upon its one star, Zidane.

"We got what we deserved." (Full story)

Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc blasted his former France team-mates as "just not good enough."

Blanc told the UK Press Association: "This team has to question itself individually and collectively. Some should wonder whether they should keep playing for the national team."

Former France midfielder Franck Sauzee said: "The shock is big, but if you are not better than the other teams you cannot go forward in a competition like this.

"If you analyse the three games we weren't good enough."