Courtesy of MLusk at Weather Records

 Francophilia Completa : Ok Oh and the Repercussions of a Tender Age
  
I cannot escape my roots.  My parents, probably my mother, definitely my mother, or possibly my father, yes, now that I think about it my father, decided I ought to learn French early.  I don't know what age fourth grade is, but whatever age, that's the age I started French lessons.  I am informed that I come from good, French Canadian stock, besides the fact that my parents once spent a few unhappy years in Tours, so it all makes sense. Unless, of course you factor in that neither of my parents speak French.  Or that they gave up their insistence on the lessons after a scant few years, leaving me rudderless to drift towards the more "useful" Spanish.  Either way and anyhow, I can't avoid loving a debacle.  I can't avoid appreciating moral futility.  I love Les Bleus and it is now fixed in empathetic cement.

L'équipe   "That's it. Their ordeal – our ordeal – is over. No longer must we support this team whose whims drained us all. Les Bleus are eliminated and got what they deserved: they were ridiculous till the end. At no point did this team show the slightest trace of a soul."
 
France Football   "Easily beaten by a very modest South African team, Les Bleus left the tournament by the same way they came in: by the back door. After spending the weekend playing at being trade unionists and special agents, they forgot to play football. Physically and psychologically unprepared, they simply couldn't put one foot in front of the other.
 
Le Monde  "France are out … the World Cup has lost its jesters. For the first time in French history, the public and the players greet an exit with relief. Jean-Paul Sartre wrote that "in football, everything is complicated by the presence of an opponent" but this French team showed you don't necessarily need an opponent – they were able to sabotage themselves. To all the questions that teams are asked in this sort of tournament, Les Bleus – the players, the staff and the FFF – gave the wrong answers, and ended up in a total fiasco ... We must turn the page. Or rather, rip it out."
 
Le Figaro  "After the sending-off they were overwhelmed and outclassed. Drifting, they almost drowned. They managed to avoid a severe spanking but the upshot was the same as if they had: they lost without ever suggesting they could rebel against defeat or save their honour. The fact that Raymond Doemench refused to shake the hand of Carlos Alberto Parreira is too serious go ignore. It is an inexcuable lack of respect. How can he ask players to be dignified and behave in exemplary fashion when he acts like this? Ridiculous.
 
Le Parisien  "Pitiful, ridiculous, shameful … it's hard to find the words to describe this France team in this World Cup. South Africa were hyperactive despite their limited ability, while France were without desire, answers or a clue. When it comes to identifying those responsible for this fiasco, the list is almost endless. But Raymond Domenech tops it … with his incoherent selections, inability to mould a group and publicity skills that make him one of the most unpopular men in the country, the manager leaves his post after six years with one highlight – a World Cup final appearance in 2006 for which stalwarts such as Zidane, Vieira and Makele deserve more credit than him ….. Laurent Blanc will arrive in a few days on to a field of ruins. What a waste."

Compendium coalesced by The Guardian, brought to our attention thanks to Sanford's Soccer Net.

 

2 comments:

BigDan said...

I thought you loved the Italians? You're an American now, whether you like it or not. Voila.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that's true. I love the Italians too. Don't you read my blog?
Wifey and I watched a replay of The Goal this morning and I nearly teared up again.
So very American...