After a dour start to their World Cup campaign France succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mexico in a match that left them needing a "miracle" to qualify for the Second Round.
The abject display will undoubtedly have the French media up in arms and raises serious doubts about the squad's mentality and that of manager Raymond Domenech.
Even at 1-0 down Domenech, the much-maligned manager, looked as though his mind was elsewhere and showed little emotion when his side conceded the penalty that made it 2-0 to the Mexicans. Unruffled in exterior, the interior was surely reeling at the French Football Federation's (FFF) decision to name his successor, Laurent Blanc, before the team had even arrived at their World Cup base in South Africa.
World Cup winners in 1998 and European Cup winners in 2000, France have established themselves as a major force in international tournaments in the last decade but since their loss to Italy in the 2006 World Cup Final they have flattered to deceive on an enormous scale.
Domenech was at the helm when France suffered a humiliating exit from Euro 2008, finishing bottom of the group and only managing a solitary goal in the process. Stories were rife at the time that all was not well within the camp, a feeling which has seemingly intensified during his reign.
The FFF have to be applauded in some respects for sticking to their guns whilst all around seemed to be reaching for theirs. Loyalty is a fragile quality, not least in football, but some would argue that the writing was on the wall; especially when a manager loses the confidence of his player's.
Fast forward to World Cup qualification and France finished second in a group which they were expected to win with ease. Pipped to automatic qualification by a resolute Serbia side meant that they would have to qualify in a two-legged play off against Giovanni Trappatoni's Republic of Ireland side. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Despite the contentious nature in which France qualified for the finals in South Africa, questions were still being asked of Domenech's managerial ability. Eyebrows were raised at his refusal to introduce Karim Benzema, Real Madrid's £30 million striker, when his side were in desperate need of finding a goal in the second leg.
Domenech did little to ease the pressure on his position when his World Cup squad announcement revealed that a number of key players were cut adrift. Although Benzema's omission was not completely unexpected it was met with some disappointment given the striker's impressive strike rate. Arsenal's gifted midfield playmaker, Samir Nasri, was another of those that did not make the grade as was the experienced, former French captain and World Cup winner, Patrick Vieira.
Two games into the tournament and Domenech has admitted that it will take a "miracle" for his side to reach the last sixteen. The stark admission only serves to illustrate the mood within the camp which clearly lacks belief and fight.
But who can blame him? Domenech is on a hiding to nothing and even if he wins the World Cup with France he already knows he'll be looking for a new job on his return. The FFF had the chance to relieve him of his duties after their shambolic display at the Euro 2008 finals. They had the chance to replace him during their qualification for the World Cup but, instead, decided to do the most disrespectful and damaging thing they could and announce his successor before the team had even begun preparations for the tournament.
France's failings have a lot do with Domenech but everything to do with the FFF.
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