After what feels like an eternity of warm-up games and squad announcements, Euro 2016 begins this week. With a tournament in France just around the corner, it's difficult not to remember the last time the country hosted a major international competition.

The 1998 World Cup stirs up memory after memory - Diego Simeone and David Beckham, Ronaldo's arrival on a global stage and Dennis Bergkamp's wonderful strike - but the real story of the competition was the brilliance of the Black Blanc Beur French side that won the famous trophy.

Sportsmail has had a look at the players and what they are doing now.

France won the 1998 World Cup in their home country, beating the much fancied Brazil in the final in Paris

The team were hailed as a uniting force in the country, able to transcend racial lines to bring together a nation

FRANCE'S ROAD TO GLORY IN 1998 12 June: 3-0 win v South Africa 18 June: 4-0 win v Saudi Arabia 24 June: 2-1 win v Denmark 28 June: 1-0 win (aet) v Paraguay 3 July: 0-0 (France win on penalties) v Italy 8 July: 2-1 win v Croatia 12 July: 3-0 win v Brazil Advertisement

Bernard Lama (goalkeeper) - Managed Kenya for two months before quitting due to a lack of professionalism. He has spent the last five years trying to convince countries to use Guyana as a base for the Rio Olympics.

Fabian Barthez (goalkeeper) - Almost immediately following retirement Barthez began a career in motorsport. He entered the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 29th.

Lionel Charbonnier (goalkeeper) - Currently manager of Sa Majeste Sanga Balende in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after spells with Tahiti, FC Sens and Atjeh United.

Bernard Lama has spent five years trying to encourage teams to use Guyana as a base for the Rio Olympics

Lionel Charbonnier is the manager of Sa Majeste Sanga Balende in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Fabian Barthez has had a career in motorsports since retiring

Vincent Candela (defender) - Candela has a film credit to his name, working as a dubbing actor for the Italian-language edition of Shaolin Soccer. He also appeared on Italy's version of Dancing with the Stars in 2014.

Bixente Lizarazu (defender) - Started training in jujitsu in 2008 and became European champion at blue belt level the next year. Also works as a pundit on French television.

Laurent Blanc (defender) - Current manager of Paris Saint-Germain, although his failure in the Champions League seems likely to cost him his job this summer.

Vincent Candela, middle, was one of a number of Italy-based footballers to lend their voices to Shaolin Soccer

Bixente Lizarazu has won the European championship for jijitsu in the blue belt category since retiring

The manager of Paris Saint-Germain, although Laurent Blanc will worry about losing his job this summer

Lilian Thuram (defender) - Has a charitable foundation and is heavily involved in political protest in France. Has been seen at demonstrations for same sex marriage and is a key figure in the national racism discourse.

Frank Leboeuf (defender) - Moved to Los Angeles and played football with Vinnie Jones before moving into acting, his 'first passion'. Appeared in the Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything as a doctor.

Zinedine Zidane (midfielder) - Spent several years working his way through the ranks behind the scenes at Real Madrid before becoming manager. He won the Champions League at the first attempt.

Lilian Thuram has a charitable foundation and is heavily involved in racial politics in France these days

Former defender Frank Lebouef moved to Los Angeles after his retirement to pursue his first passion, acting

Lebouef appeared in the critically acclaimed Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything as a doctor

Zinedine Zidane worked his way up at Real Madrid after retiring before taking charge of the first team in 2015

Robert Pires (midfielder) - The 42-year-old only officially retired from professional football in February 2016 after a year without a club. His last team were FC Goa of the Indian Super League.

Patrick Vieira (midfielder) - In charge of New York City since the start of the MLS campaign, who play on one of the thinnest pitches in football. Vieira has spent much of the season attempting to implement a traditional W-M formation.

Didier Deschamps (midfielder) - Deschamps will lead France into this summer's European Championship. Has spent his entire retirement focused on management.

Ex-Arsenal winger Robert Pires only retired from professional football in February 2016 after a spell in India

Patrick Vieira is in charge of MLS club New York City, where he is implementing traditional tactical ideas

Didier Deschamps will lead France into another home tournament as the current manager of the national team

Bernard Diomede (midfielder) - Since 2008 Diomede has been running the Academie Bernard Diomede in the south of Paris.

Alain Boghossian (midfielder) - Boghossian has spent most of his retirement looking for a job as a manager but has not been appointed as one. He also plays a lot of golf and has ended up with a handicap of 1, which earned him a place in the Masters 13 on the 2007 Alps Tour.

Emmanuel Petit (midfielder) - The 45-year-old has been an ambassador for the Homeless World Cup since 2011. He also shaved off his famous hair in the same year to raise money for charity.

Liverpool flop Bernard Diomede runs an academy named after himself for footballers in the south of Paris

Alain Boghossian has played a lot of golf since retiring from football, to the extent that he has a handicap of -1

Emmanuel Petit pictured with his flowing locks at the 1998 World Cup, which he shaved in 2011 for charity

Christian Karembeu (midfielder) - Karembeu is working to expand Australia's A-League to include a team from the Pacific Islands and hosted French TV series Of Islands and Men, which was a travel programme about visiting the most beautiful islands in the world. He will be a pundit for ITV this summer.

Youri Djorkaeff (forward) - Runs charitable organisations in New York to encourage people to play football. Ousted as president of Armenian club Decines in 2015.

Stephane Guivarc'h (forward) - Became a pool salesman after his friend, a plumber, asked him to help him with his business. Has been successful in the industry for 10 years.

Christian Karembeu has been working on an A-League expansion involving a team from the Pacific Island

Former Bolton Wanderers star Youri Djourkaeff runs a charity in New York encouraging people to play football

Stephane Guivarc'h has been a successful pool salesman for the last 10 years after being wooed into the trade

Thierry Henry (forward) - Henry has become a firm member of the punditry stable. Works for Sky Sports throughout the domestic season and will be a part of the BBC's team for Euro 2016.

David Trezeguet (forward) - Trezeguet became an ambassador for Juventus shortly after retiring following his involvement in the inaugural Indian Super League season. Travels worldwide working on Juve's image.

Christophe Dugarry (forward) - Owns a bar while working as a pundit and commentator for Canal Plus. Regularly faces criticism as he is seen as biased towards Bordeaux.

Thierry Henry will be with the BBC for Euro 2016 and works for Sky Sports during the Premier League season

David Trezeguet works as an ambassador and travels the world for former side Juventus in a publicity role