France may have been knocked out of yet another World Cup by nemesis Germany on Friday but restoring their image and rebuilding expectations ahead of Euro 2016 were even more important after their debacle in South Africa four years ago.

It was far from an unsuccessful trip to Brazil for coach Didier Deschamps’ team, especially given the setbacks before arriving in South America. After their headline-grabbing mutiny in South Africa against then coach Raymond Domenech and verbal outbursts against a reporter at Euro 2012, France’s top priority was to field a united team that their fans could embrace once again.

They almost did not make it to Brazil following a 2-0 playoff defeat by Ukraine in the first leg. But a string of changes from coach Didier Deschamps and two goals from Mamadou Sakho beat the East Europeans 3-0 in the second leg to book a trip to Brazil.

Their biggest blow came before the tournament when 2013 European player of the year Franck Ribery was ruled out due to injury. But their campaign in Brazil got off to the best possible start with a 3-0 win over Honduras to put them in control of their group.

That was followed by a scintillating 5-2 demolition of Switzerland which instantly put the French among a select group of title contenders. More importantly, however, it made fans at home like their team again, restoring confidence in their ability and teamwork.

Deschamps, who won the 1998 World Cup as a player and Euro 2000, had an iron grip on his players, even when there were questions about forward Karim Benzema’s alleged sulking about his position on the left.

Deschamps, who suffered his first World Cup defeat as player or coach on Friday, shrugged them off. Forward Benzema again started on the wing but as France struggled against the physical Nigerians, Deschamps did what most France fans wanted to see do from the start. He brought on winger Antoine Griezmann, allowing Benzema to slip back into his favoured role in the centre of attack and the move paid off as two late goals sent France into the quarter-finals to face arch-rivals Germany.