football anyone? as in soccer...

[OldieButFrenchie]

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ICI C'EST PARIS!! damn that was tense.....

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Congrats man! Hope you have a blast!

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merci ! Had a pretty quiet night, after all I'm a dad haha... Popped some champagne with mates though and my youngest kid was stoked! He was so sure we would beat Arsenal easily....I warned him: it's a final, anything can happen. And so it was tense. Hard watch.

now I'm still on a high... Winning once was great, but winning back to back makes you undeniable.
Really super happy after all those years when PSG was the laughing stock of Europe. And all those years of French players, especially from the Paris area, being bought up by big foreign clubs. I mean Thierry Henry was from my hometown, his cousin was in my high school, and now he has a friggin statue in front of the Arsenal stadium! how crazy is it btw that Les Ulis, which has a population of 25 000, gave 3 players to the French national team: Henry, Evra, Martial.

anyways PSG finally getting respect worldwide is just huge. kind of gives me the same feeling as in 98, when the French national team won the biggest trophy of all after decades of heartaches.
people might not remember but France had not even qualified for the WC, the last time it was held in the US, in 94... seems crazy now.

so I say bring on the WC! only 10 days or so away now....It will be hard to top the excitement of that champions league campaign but I'm sure some crazy stuff will go down, as always.

edit: almost forgot to mention, the ref telling Arsenal just before half-time "nope, you will not play the corner kick, you've wasted too much time" was prizeless!! Arsenal played quite negatively for a lot of the time. And the contrast in style with psg is crazy, when you think that both clubs have spanish coaches. Makes you wonder if the clubs'playing style is a reflection of their league and their country's playing culture.

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Congrats! I remember reading somewhere that in the top five leagues in Europe, about ten percent(?) of players were born in the greater Paris area. Come to think of it, maybe it was you saying that in this very thread.

To get into the WC a bit—can we all agree that Curacao away takes kit of the tournament?

Edit: of course of course, the kit:
https://www.adidas.it/maglia-away-curacao-26/LE3406.html

well it's true I have been harping about this for quite some time   

[Atiba Applebum]

Belle & Sebastian just dropped an anthem for Scotland’s WC Squad

[ThatIsNotCricket]

Belle & Sebastian just dropped an anthem for Scotland’s WC Squad

Yes please. Since the CL final is done my excitement for the World Cup has trippled. These are the type of things I need for the next week.

Maybe a weird question that doesn't really belong here, but has anyone else had a few seconds here and there where they thought 'this world cup could seriously become the stage of something awful of some kind'? I don't know, just today reading the news, then listening to some football podcast and looking at all the stadiums they'll be playing at, and then just have that pop in your head for a second.

[OldieButFrenchie]

nope did not think of that.....I have more basic concerns, like I wish they had fixed the handball/penalty rules mess before the WC, things have been really inconsistent and unclear lately. With VAR that stuff should be straightforward....!

[Síota]

Well considering US is currently at war with Iran and the out break of Ebola, let alone ICE...not looking great.

[brycickle]

We gonna do WC brackets or fantasy league?

[OldieButFrenchie]

how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

source: https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/99-joueurs-selectionnes-pour-la-coupe-du-monde-sont-nes-en-france/1681433

Second country is Netherlands, with 67 players. That surprised me ! Then Germany, England, Belgium.....

[Alan]

how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

Not very if you know the reason for such a high number.

[OldieButFrenchie]

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how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

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Not very if you know the reason for such a high number.

if that were true, then England should probably be number 1. Or maybe Spain. And Netherlands + Germany should not be 2 and 3.

[brycickle]

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how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

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Not very if you know the reason for such a high number.

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if that were true, then England should probably be number 1. Or maybe Spain. And Netherlands + Germany should not be 2 and 3.

Well, England lost a fuck load of eligible folks in 1776...and India and Pakistan aren't huge footballing countries.

[Alan]

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how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

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Not very if you know the reason for such a high number.

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if that were true, then England should probably be number 1. Or maybe Spain. And Netherlands + Germany should not be 2 and 3.

If what were true?

[OldieButFrenchie]

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how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

[close]

Not very if you know the reason for such a high number.

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if that were true, then England should probably be number 1. Or maybe Spain. And Netherlands + Germany should not be 2 and 3.

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Well, England lost a fuck load of eligible folks in 1776...and India and Pakistan aren't huge footballing countries.

Jamaica, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria....
also England did not lose "eligible folks" in 1776, you got it backwards. Algeria, Morocco and all the other countries that French bi-nationals play for (usually when they can't make it to les Bleus) are independent just like the US.
The French acadmies being good is the difference.

And btw, I have zero qualms about being proudly French. Mainly cause I was not born there, and I have zero French blood but the country welcomed my adopted ass and for that I will rep it very proudly. Sorry for getting personnal here but it gets personal.

[OldieButFrenchie]

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how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

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Not very if you know the reason for such a high number.

[close]

if that were true, then England should probably be number 1. Or maybe Spain. And Netherlands + Germany should not be 2 and 3.

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If what were true?

what you were implying. That colonialism is the reason. Just stop implying stuff and say what you think.

[Alan]

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how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

[close]

Not very if you know the reason for such a high number.

[close]

if that were true, then England should probably be number 1. Or maybe Spain. And Netherlands + Germany should not be 2 and 3.

[close]

If what were true?

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what you were implying. That colonialism is the reason. Just stop implying stuff and say what you think.

You were implying that, not me. I didn't even imply anything. Anyways, there's a reason all the countries on that list, bar Brazil and Argentina, are West European economic powers that attract millions of Global South immigrants. No shit some of them will decide to play for their ancestral country. Sure, colonialism/postcolonialism plays a part in this but it's not the only factor. Point being, it's only 'crazy' if you're oblivious to the reasons behind the numbers.

[Fire Air Walk with Me]

I was gonna throw some shade on my 115th post. COYG.

Instead I'm gonna post the first WC banger anthem I've heard[Haiti]

[OldieButFrenchie]

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how crazy is that: 8 % of all players at WC 2026 are born in France.
(99 players out of 1248, 75 of which will play for other countries)

[close]

Not very if you know the reason for such a high number.

[close]

if that were true, then England should probably be number 1. Or maybe Spain. And Netherlands + Germany should not be 2 and 3.

[close]

If what were true?

[close]

what you were implying. That colonialism is the reason. Just stop implying stuff and say what you think.

[close]

You were implying that, not me. I didn't even imply anything. Anyways, there's a reason all the countries on that list, bar Brazil and Argentina, are West European economic powers that attract millions of Global South immigrants. No shit some of them will decide to play for their ancestral country. Sure, colonialism/postcolonialism plays a part in this but it's not the only factor. Point being, it's only 'crazy' if you're oblivious to the reasons behind the numbers.

I guess I misunderstood you, sorry about that then! I do agree the fact that these countries attract immigrants is of course a factor. But that does not explain why France has twice as many players in the WC as Germany or England. again, quality of academies is the difference IMO.

I get heated on this subject pretty quick I guess. It just drives me nuts that any time I see something about the French squad in the global media, the first comment is almost always "oh but they are not french". Considering my background I take that shit personal. so f**k you Trevor Noah! If you ever make it to Slap haha.....

[Alan]

Yes, French academies are excellent, no doubt, but the Dutch ones are probably not as good, yet per capita they blow France out of the water (67 players/18 mil people vs 99 players/70 mil). So I wouldn't assign it just one explanation. There's a bunch of things at play here...

[jorge]

Yes, French academies are excellent, no doubt, but the Dutch ones are probably not as good, yet per capita they blow France out of the water (67 players/18 mil people vs 99 players/70 mil). So I wouldn't assign it just one explanation. There's a bunch of things at play here...

Good thing no other countries are remotely shady when it comes to the World Cup.

Allez Les Blues!

[V Badun]

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Yes, French academies are excellent, no doubt, but the Dutch ones are probably not as good, yet per capita they blow France out of the water (67 players/18 mil people vs 99 players/70 mil). So I wouldn't assign it just one explanation. There's a bunch of things at play here...

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Good thing no other countries are remotely shady when it comes to the World Cup.

Allez Les Blues!

French guy scored against France yesterday and it wasnt own goal.   

[OldieButFrenchie]

yup the other Doué, Guela Doué, sank his lil bro's team with one goal and one assist!
 

I did not watch the whole thing but man, Ivory Coast went for it, you could tell they wanted to make a statement and they did! That Germany/Ivory Coast/Ecuador group will be interesting. 

[ThatIsNotCricket]

Sorry to go in with a two footed tackle from behind in a friendly here, but you can't at one point (and not unrecently too) say that people in Middle-Eastern countries (read Muslims) 'just don't want to live in a democracy' (whereas the nice, good, proper people of Israel do) and then be surprised people assume there's a bit of latent racism in your post about the ethnicity of players in different squads. Not saying you are a racist, that I am better than you, or anything like that. Just saying the mistake here doesn't lie entirely with someone else.

Aaaaaaaanyway, I watched the Netflix doc about Domenech and the whole saga of France at the 2010 WC. It's a good watch. Never really knew Domenech was/is a complete narcissist that shouldn't be allowed near a football pitch to begin with.

[Síota]

Since you guys are all on a out political stuff, does anyone else think it's funny that the short form for Argentina Football Association is AFA? I'm quite fond of that abbreviation.

[ThatIsNotCricket]

Since you guys are all on a out political stuff, does anyone else think it's funny that the short form for Argentina Football Association is AFA? I'm quite fond of that abbreviation.

I always think about Alient Ant Farm for a second when I see the logo. It doesn't make much sense, but I can't help it.

Come to think of it, what's the best logo (and kit) at the World Cup? Argentina is always up there.

[excitableboy]

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Since you guys are all on a out political stuff, does anyone else think it's funny that the short form for Argentina Football Association is AFA? I'm quite fond of that abbreviation.

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I always think about Alient Ant Farm for a second when I see the logo. It doesn't make much sense, but I can't help it.

Come to think of it, what's the best logo (and kit) at the World Cup? Argentina is always up there.

I threw in my two cents on the previous page (Curacao away).

Yes, French academies are excellent, no doubt, but the Dutch ones are probably not as good, yet per capita they blow France out of the water (67 players/18 mil people vs 99 players/70 mil). So I wouldn't assign it just one explanation. There's a bunch of things at play here...

When I played in the NL we would go there for tournaments because the competition was so strong. State-funded talent building is likely a big factor I would guess. For the NL, state funding must play a big part too, but it's focused on amateurs. Foreigners in my uni team were amazed at the organization of it—in Amsterdam alone there are thousands of teams playing every weekend in competitions, with dressing rooms, clubhouses, refs, coaches. And that's a small city, look at it bird's eye it's like a third astroturf green.

But another reason might be that Ligue 1 is not very strong. Prem managers are hesitant to play youngsters unless they are absolute top, and even in Championship this is true. There is so much money in it they prefer buying established players. For the NL top leagues are even weaker. If you are a Brighton maybe you'll buy a Dutch or French 24 yo with years of experience even in CL before you play a promising academy player.

[OldieButFrenchie]

Sorry to go in with a two footed tackle from behind in a friendly here, but you can't at one point (and not unrecently too) say that people in Middle-Eastern countries (read Muslims) 'just don't want to live in a democracy' (whereas the nice, good, proper people of Israel do) and then be surprised people assume there's a bit of latent racism in your post about the ethnicity of players in different squads. Not saying you are a racist, that I am better than you, or anything like that. Just saying the mistake here doesn't lie entirely with someone else.

Aaaaaaaanyway, I watched the Netflix doc about Domenech and the whole saga of France at the 2010 WC. It's a good watch. Never really knew Domenech was/is a complete narcissist that shouldn't be allowed near a football pitch to begin with.

say what?
First off, I NEVER said that about the Middle-East, don't put words in my mouth.
Second, that conversation was 6 years ago. You weren't there. Why bring it up now, and in a football thread?
And btw I still stand by everything I said in that old thread, which is why I'm still here.

also now this: "be surprised people assume there's a bit of latent racism in your post about the ethnicity of players in the French squad". Where the f** did you get that? I don't think anyone assumed what you are saying. But people can correct me if I'm wrong. Honestly I just worried about coming off too chauvinistic or patriotic. Which can be quite obnoxious I find.

anyways don't try to pretend to be on the good side of anything when it comes to racism if you support Argentina, the most racist country in world football...

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5643556/2024/07/17/argentina-chanting-football-silence/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/28/argentina-european-self-image-racist-incidents-brazil

damn. Shots fired even before WC kick-off. no wonder an Argentina fan and my French ass have a hard time getting along. I've actually heard a lot of French friends say: I don't care how well we do at this WC, as long we kick Argentina's ass....The bad blood is real.

[Alan]

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Since you guys are all on a out political stuff, does anyone else think it's funny that the short form for Argentina Football Association is AFA? I'm quite fond of that abbreviation.

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I always think about Alient Ant Farm for a second when I see the logo. It doesn't make much sense, but I can't help it.

Come to think of it, what's the best logo (and kit) at the World Cup? Argentina is always up there.

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I threw in my two cents on the previous page (Curacao away).

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Yes, French academies are excellent, no doubt, but the Dutch ones are probably not as good, yet per capita they blow France out of the water (67 players/18 mil people vs 99 players/70 mil). So I wouldn't assign it just one explanation. There's a bunch of things at play here...

[close]

When I played in the NL we would go there for tournaments because the competition was so strong. State-funded talent building is likely a big factor I would guess. For the NL, state funding must play a big part too, but it's focused on amateurs. Foreigners in my uni team were amazed at the organization of it—in Amsterdam alone there are thousands of teams playing every weekend in competitions, with dressing rooms, clubhouses, refs, coaches. And that's a small city, look at it bird's eye it's like a third astroturf green.

But another reason might be that Ligue 1 is not very strong. Prem managers are hesitant to play youngsters unless they are absolute top, and even in Championship this is true. There is so much money in it they prefer buying established players. For the NL top leagues are even weaker. If you are a Brighton maybe you'll buy a Dutch or French 24 yo with years of experience even in CL before you play a promising academy player.

That's fascinating. Thanks for the insight!