France crash out of World Cup
France crashed out of the World Cup after losing 2-0 to Denmark today.
The defending champions failed to score in their three Group A matches and Patrick Vieira admitted: "This is a catastrophe for the team and a catastrophe for French football."
After losing to Senegal and drawing with Uruguay, France needed to beat Denmark by two goals but even the return of £48 million Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane failed to inspire the team. Denmark finished top and Senegal came second and will play England on Sunday if Sven-Goran Eriksson's men top Group F.
Denmark won with a 22ndminute goal from PSV Eindhoven's Dennis Rommedahl and a 67th-minute strike from Jon Dahl Tomasson and crowds in Paris watched big screens in stunned silence. Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe said: "We are a nation in mourning after such a disastrous result."
It is the first time the reigning champions have bowed out in the first round since Brazil in 1966.
Arsenal midfielder Vieira told Standard Sport: "It is a huge disappointment for myself and for the team. Our performance was really poor in the three games because we took just one point and didn't even score.
"It is hard to understand what has happened because everything was so positive when we were preparing. But just because you won the last World Cup and European Championship does not mean you will go through very easily.
"Clearly we lost something between the European Championship and the World Cup. It has been two years without a competitive game.
"We have to blame ourselves. Maybe it is a new age for France now. It is maybe over for this team. Maybe we need a new team with new players.
"But, to be honest, it is difficult to find a solution because all 23 players had this drive, this desire to do really well. But we just didn't perform as we normally do."
Coach Roger Lemerre refused to speculate about his future saying: "My personal fate is not important."
CLICK HERE FOR FULL MATCH REPORT
Sven shocked by France defeat
Lemerre: We deserved to go out
Blanc: France 'just not good enough'
Senegal v Uruguay - report
GROUP TABLES
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS
