We will therefore have to wait at least another 24 years for the French hockey players to participate in the Olympics again.
Despite great resistance, the Blues fell narrowly (2-1) this Sunday against the host country in the last match of the TQO (Olympic qualifying tournament) played in Latvia.
Both teams had previously won their first two meetings.
The French won Thursday against Hungary (5-3) and then Italy (2-0) on Friday.
Latvia had crushed the Transalpines (6-0) then the Hungarians (9-0).
After conceding a first goal after 11 minutes of play in the first period, Philippe Bozon's players were on par with their opponents supported by 8,000 people.
During the second half, the Blues seemed to gain the upper hand but Stéphane Da Costa and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, one of the 3 NHL players (North American championship) with Antoine Roussel (Arizona) and Alexandre Texier (Colombus), have stumbled in front of the Latvian porter.
On a numerical superiority situation, the Latvians made the break at the start of the third period before the French reduced the score by Stéphane Da Costa (51st) with nine minutes remaining.
Despite domination at the end of the game, the Latvians keep their goal in advance and qualify for the Beijing Olympics next February.
“We were on a mission, we wanted this qualification so much. My players were ready to die on the ice. They collapsed in the locker room, said coach Philippe Bozon. It is a very difficult time. But I am proud of my men. We didn't want to have any regrets. So, of course, yes we have it but not the effort and what we did on the ice. We only lacked success. The hockey gods were Latvians this Sunday. "