Although he missed the defeat of Scotland back in March, he remains vital - both as a figurehead and as supplier and scorer of goals - to the World Champions' hopes of claiming the European Nations title.

Peversely, 'Zizou' was one of the great disappointments of Euro 96.

Having kept Eric Cantona out of the French squad and been hailed as the new Michel Platini, he failed to deliver in any of his five games in England.

In club football, however, he continued to produce the goods, winning the league, World Club Cup and European Super cup with Juve.

But it was at the Stade de France in July 1998 that he finally fulfilled all that promise.

Now even the legendary Platini himself calls him the last of the classic playmakers.