Lilian Thuram
Only three players from the successful teams of 1998-2000 were selected in the final squad for Euro 2008 by French coach Raymond Domenech, with only Thierry Henry and Lilian Thuram earning game time, and their effectiveness and performances were soundly criticised by French football media. The third player, Patrick Vieira, was initially named the team captain but was unable to take the field in any of France's Euro matches due to a thigh injury. The team's exit from the tournament signalled the international retirements of Lilian Thuram, Claude Makélélé, and Willy Sagnol, with the last announcing his club and international retirement synonymously. After the tournament, calls were made for the sacking of Raymond Domenech, and Didier Deschamps, captain of the 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euro championship teams, was sounded out as a suitable replacement but on 3 July, at a French Football Federation high level meeting in Paris, it was announced that Domenech would be retained as manager.