England qualify for Euros with 100% record – what happened to the first five who did it?

England have become the sixth team to go through qualifying for a European Championship without losing a point – but that does not guarantee success when the tournament comes around

France, champions in 1984, had failed to qualify for Euro 88 as holders, then were unable to make the 1990 World Cup. Michel Platini’s team were back in the big time at Euro 92, having topped what looked a tricky qualifying group including Czechoslovakia and Spain with eight wins out of eight. With Jean-Pierre Papin the hottest striker in Europe at the time, and Eric Cantona in the midst of his most prolific period for Les Bleus, France were highly regarded going into the championships. But though Papin scored twice at the tournament, their play was generally uninspired and they failed to escape the group. They drew with hosts Sweden and Graham Taylor’s England, then were knocked out by the eventual champions, Denmark. The only memorable mark they left on the tournament was the one Basile Boli planted on Stuart Pearce’s cheekbone. SM

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