Host France has history on its side
France will enter next summer's Euro 2016 as one of the favourites to lift the trophy for a third time, playing host for the first time in 32 years.
The country's previous victories have been emblematic of the emergence of golden generations and the current Les Bleus roster reflects the development of another, managed by a gaffer who is very familiar with what it takes to win Europe's biggest trophy.
Since the European Championship expanded to eight teams for Italy '80, France has hosted the tournament once before, defeating Spain 2-0 at Parc des Princes in 1984 for Les Blues' first-ever major trophy.
Michel Platini's ninth goal of the tournament and one of Bruno Bellone's two career goals for France - a 90th minute effort to cement the result - were the difference, and while the currently suspended UEFA boss was the player of the tournament, Jean Tigana was their standout member.
The future Lyon manager and Platini combined with Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez to form the "carre magique" (magic square). The foursome dominated Europe in 1984, as France won all 12 of its competitive matches and Olympic gold. The Euro 1984 victory was sandwiched by World Cup semifinal appearances, including 1982's frenetic 5-4 extra-time defeat at the hands of West Germany, a controversial match marred by a horrendous injury to Patrick Battiston.
Three decades after the Just Fontaine era, Platini's generation was France's best and most decorated - trumped only by a collection of players that emerged roughly ten years later.
Zinedine Zidane, then of Bordeaux, was handed his first senior cap, joining established internationals including Marcel Desailly, Laurent Blanc, Bixente Lizarazu, Emmanuel Petit, and current boss Didier Deschamps. That side lost to the Czechs in the semifinal of the continental tournament's 1996 installment.
With an already stacked squad, names like Claude Makelele, David Trezeguet, Patrick Vieira, and Thierry Henry started to appear on team sheets, culminating in the 3-0 World Cup final victory over Brazil in '98 at Stade de France courtesy of a Zidane brace and a Petit goal.
Two years later, Les Bleus became the first World Cup holders to win the European Championship with arguably the most talented side in continental history. Sylvain Wiltord's 90th-minute effort nullified a Marco Delvecchio goal for Italy before Trezeguet netted the winner in the first interval of extra-time.
A French side that featured the core four of Arsenal's "Les Invicibles" - Robert Pires joining Wiltord, Henry, and Vieira - and also boasted stars like Zidane, Desailly, and Lilian Thuram became continental giants, expanding on the conquests of the Fontaine and Platini generations to establish themselves as the world’s best.
Both Lizarazu and Trezeguet were on stage for Saturday's draw as part of a process that saw the hosts draw Romania, Switzerland, and first-timer Albania in what should be a cakewalk for Didier Deschamps' men.
It's not the first time a host nation has been gifted a straightforward draw, and the French should easily win Group A and advance to face the second-place team from either Group C, D, or E.
An attack littered with the likes of Anthony Martial, Kingsley Coman, Olivier Giroud, Alexandre Lacazette, and Antoine Griezmann is a nightmare for any opposition, even with Karim Benzema's ban. It's bolstered by a core of Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and Morgan Schneiderlin, sitting in front of a back four of Laurent Koscielny, Raphael Varane, and any combination of Kurt Zouma, Mathieu Debuchy, Eliaquim Mangala, Patrice Evra, and Bacary Sagna. With skipper Hugo Lloris in net, it all amounts to one of Europe's best sides.
Defending world champ Germany will pose a threat, as will the Belgians and current holder Spain. Having won both major tournaments on home soil before, though, Les Bleus have an opportunity to mark the emergence of France's next golden generation. History will be on their side.