French Soccer

France is home to one of the most successful national soccer teams in the world. In the last view world tournaments, the French have been eliminated early. The recent lack of success has been blamed on the tension between the coaches and players, which has led to the release of most of the coaching staff. After one bad showing in world competition the president, prime minister and French soccer officials all had to come together in order to “fix” the problem.  

Before the utter tragedy that has become the French soccer program they made it to the World Cup final in 2006. After taking an early lead in the match Zinedine Zidane, one of the French stars, head butted an Italian player. After being red carded the Italians took over the game and went on to win the World Cup. After the final, French soccer hit rock bottom, coaches and players started to play the blame game.

In 1998, France became the seventh team to win the World Cup in its first appearance in the final. This was the country’s coming out party into World Soccer. Soccer quickly gained popularity in France after the first World War. Soldiers played the game in the trenches during extended periods of downtime. They spread the game after returning home from the war. Soccer games were played primarily in the army and universities before WWI. France was always viewed as the little brother of European soccer. They were always a top team in Europe but could never seem to beat the top teams built on skill and tradition.

The French Football Federation was founded in 1919. It oversees all aspects of professional and amateur soccer throughout France and runs the international soccer matches for the national team. The Federation organizes, develops and monitors the way soccer is taught and practiced by national teams and issuing licenses to prospective coaches. The Federation manages relationships with foreign soccer associations that are affiliated with the Federation Internationale de Football Association.

Thank you for joining us for the final week of World Soccer Traditions. It was an honor to have you join me, but all great things come to an end. World Soccer Traditions would like to thank all our affiliates, Toshiba for this wonderful lap top, water for hydrating me, and fruity pebbles for my wonderful breakfast. Dear lord baby Jesus I would like to thank you for Brian McHugh and his rich knowledgeable words. “Soccer is the gentleman’s game played my scoundrels.” Thank you and goodnight soccer fanatics.