Comments on: Why I Love the French National Team http://missadventures.com/2004/06/14/why-i-love-the-french-national-team/ Not Content to Sit Still Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:18:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Melanie http://missadventures.com/2004/06/14/why-i-love-the-french-national-team/#comment-8 Melanie Thu, 17 Jun 2004 13:48:51 +0000 http://missadventures.com/blog/?p=25#comment-8 Touche, Chris. I suppose there have also been problems (on the club level) in countries like Italy and Spain, where club owners are illegally obtaining passports for Argentine and Brazilian footballers with dubious Italian/Spanish heritage and importing their skills. Though I still think that France, in general, accepts a broader, more secular definition of nationality (i.e., you can be black and French, Muslim and French) than other European countries do. Touche, Chris. I suppose there have also been problems (on the club level) in countries like Italy and Spain, where club owners are illegally obtaining passports for Argentine and Brazilian footballers with dubious Italian/Spanish heritage and importing their skills.

Though I still think that France, in general, accepts a broader, more secular definition of nationality (i.e., you can be black and French, Muslim and French) than other European countries do.

]]> By: Chris http://missadventures.com/2004/06/14/why-i-love-the-french-national-team/#comment-7 Chris Thu, 17 Jun 2004 03:18:05 +0000 http://missadventures.com/blog/?p=25#comment-7 While far from an expert in such matters, it's not all roses for the French. They have a habit of poaching the best players from the African countries you mentioned and granting them French citizenship based solely on their footballing prowess rather than any family heritage. While I'm sure the French African players are grateful for the opportunities they have been given (and the lifestyle they now lead), and undoubtedly the spectacle of world football is better off for it, it doesn't do much to develop the local leagues and national teams of these African nations who lose real talent to a country with more resources. While far from an expert in such matters, it’s not all roses for the French. They have a habit of poaching the best players from the African countries you mentioned and granting them French citizenship based solely on their footballing prowess rather than any family heritage. While I’m sure the French African players are grateful for the opportunities they have been given (and the lifestyle they now lead), and undoubtedly the spectacle of world football is better off for it, it doesn’t do much to develop the local leagues and national teams of these African nations who lose real talent to a country with more resources.

]]> By: Daniel http://missadventures.com/2004/06/14/why-i-love-the-french-national-team/#comment-6 Daniel Wed, 16 Jun 2004 02:31:57 +0000 http://missadventures.com/blog/?p=25#comment-6 Hi, good post! Poor England, so close, so close - but we are always able to leap to failure at the last minute. People always say that English football hooligans are a tiny minority, I've never really believed this. Suspect there are a few deliberate leaders, but thousands of everyday idiots willing to go along with a fight if it starts. Daniel Hi, good post!

Poor England, so close, so close - but we are always able to leap to failure at the last minute.

People always say that English football hooligans are a tiny minority, I’ve never really believed this. Suspect there are a few deliberate leaders, but thousands of everyday idiots willing to go along with a fight if it starts.

Daniel

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