In the team's following match after the Bulgaria defeat, they were defeated 1–3 by Poland. After another loss to Italy, France were thrust into qualification for the 1964 European Nations' Cup. In the preliminary round, France faced England. In the first leg at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, France secured a 1–1 draw and in the second leg, defeated the English 5–2 with Lucien Cossou and Wisnieski scoring a double. In the next round, France played Bulgaria. Despite losing 0–1 to Bulgaria in Sofia, France rebounded in Paris winning 3–1, which meant a 3–2 aggregate victory and progression to the next round where they faced Hungary. In the first leg at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, France lost 1–3 with their only goal coming from Cossou when they were trailing 0–3. The second leg was also won by the Hungarians, despite France getting an early goal from the naturalised international Nestor Combin. The defeat by Hungary meant another major tournament qualification failure.