World Cup Corner

France’s history in the World Cup has been a rollercoaster ride, and their team has evoked a confusing and ever-changing mix of emotions and criticisms from both its loyalist and skeptics. Some people still believe in the power that took over during France’s glory days. Some people, however, are dismayed, doubtful, and set back by France’s recent attempts to play. In the past, they’ve even been reputed to win games only when they’re playing at home. But France, based on their track record, proves these accusations wrong.

Rolling back the reel, it is easy to say that France had been on a roll back then. An unstoppable one, too. The team moved towards the top slowly but surely. In 1958, extraordinary players, namely Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine, led their team to an impressive semi-finals. After Kopa’s reign, the 1980’s was also a good year for France. Led by three top-form players such as Platini, Tigara, and Giresse, the team inched closer to claiming the elusive victory. It also helped a lot that Platini was a great passer, and was reputed to be the best passer in the history of the game. But even after Platini, French’s roll continued until they reached the top. They soared to victory at the capable hands of class A players such as Zidane, Petit, and Blanc, among any others. Despite the skepticism that surrounded the French team, there is no doubt that their history is dotted with one too many outstanding players.

More than that, France’s victories are made even sweeter by the racist controversies that they managed to overcome. The controversies plagued their team, given the high level of attention they attracted because of their unpredictable status. It is noticeable how a number of players that played for France during their glory days, including members of the victorious 1998 roster, seemed to be of different race mixes or was born and raised in other countries. For instance, Just Fontaine happened to have been born in Morocco, while the 1998 team was made up of French players with different backgrounds.

Despite the controversies, the French team jumped over hurdle after hurdle from 1982 until 1998 just to win the elusive Cup. So when they finally won, the stakes was raised and expectations rose to great heights. Sadly, four years later the much-coveted victory that finally dawned on the team, they lost it again. Not only that. If they rolled slowly to the top, they rolled downhill fast enough. They went on a series of embarrassing defeats to teams such as Senegal, Uruguay, and Denmark. The former champions met a grave fate.

As the World Cup once again rolls over, a lot of people are nursing mixed emotions about France. However, the country’s expectations have waned, and majority of their followers are indifferent. Despite the impressive roster of players that belong to France, it seems that their luck has run out. Is France on a downhill slope? Or have they reached rock bottom that there’s no other way to go but up?