Les Bleus succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Italy in Zurich, as they finished bottom of Group C with one point.

Despite the fact that only three starters on Tuesday are under 25 years of age, Domenech sees bright future in his team.

"That team have real potential with young players with a long career ahead of them," said the France boss, whose own future with the team remains uncertain.

"I liked the temperament they showed tonight. They have real future.

"This EURO is above all an excellent opportunity for a young team to prepare for the World Cup in two years."

Veterans Lillian Thuram and Claude Makelele have both announced that the Italy game will be their last in the blue shirt, as Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira are likely to bow out as well.

Catastrophic

The French manager was left to bemoan a wretched night at Letzigrund, where his team played with a man down for most of the encounter.

Eric Abidal was sent off mid-way through the first half, only a few minutes after France lost key man Franck Ribery to injury.

"That team had guts, showed courage, unselfishness and talent but the circumstances made it tough," he said.

"Playing with 10 men for an hour; Franck being injured after 10 minutes, just one substitution possible after half an hour, that’s tough.

"You can’t accumulate as many catastrophes in one match as we did tonight."