History of France Football

Question One
a. Gabriel Hanot
Gabriel Hanot defended the position of an Austrian player whose presence in the French
team has raised issues. When Gusti Jordan was welcomed into the French national team, he was
happy. He noted that he was “very moved, happy and proud” (71). He was moved to be part of
French footballers. However, there were complaints on how an Austrian player was being
included in the national team. At the time, Hanot was a former coach who stood by Jordan and
defended his position.
Hanot defended Jordan, stating that “French in every way, French for football, not in three
months or six months, but immediately, without discussion or quibbling” (Dubois 72). The
player was French in every way, and thus he had a right to play for the team. Te french national
team had been diverse from the beginning. Players who join as immigrants are later naturalized.
Many years later, he would celebrate the diversity of the French national team (Dubois 86). He
found it as a tool to rebuild national strength. He was proud of defending Jordan when he had the
opportunity, as such actions paved the way for diversity within the team.
b. Rachid Mekloufi

Surname 2
He was an Algerian born player who played alongside spectacular players such as
Raymond Kopa and Georges Lamia (Dubois 40). He had a North African heritage. He was an
immigrant player in France who had a colonial background. His presence in the team was not
very much welcomed as it spurred discussions among people who felt that the player might not
deliver for the country. He played amongst great players and, together with his team, made the
country proud. Dubois says, “It raises the color of France high (Dubois 147). He was referring to
Rachid Mekloufi and his teammates. Each player brought a different color to the field, and they
played phenomenal games. The team in which he played was the most diverse. The author notes
that the racial egalitarianism of the players was thrilling. They represented the imperial vision of
the country. Rachid Mekloufi, alongside other players, made history not only in the world of
football but also for the country.
c. Jules Rimet
Rimet was born in a region near the German border in a small village in France. He later
moved with his family to Paris. He encountered Football for the first time in Paris. He would
later join the national team. He is said to have a vision for Football that was founded in deep-
rooted colonialism (Dubois 92). Jules later became the president of FIFA. Together with Stanley
Rous, the two leaders realized that Football was still colonized years after colonies became
independent nations. They advocated for a need to decolonize Football. Rimet introduced neo-
imperialist attitudes into Football (Dubois 92). He felt that Football in Africa was based on
imbalances of power and inequality. He was determined to make changes where he could.
d. Marius Tresor

Surname 3
Tresor played for the French team. He was born in Guadeloupe in 1950. he joined the
French team later on and made history to have played at one time as the only French player in
the team (Dubois 102). Other members of the team were all immigrants who had moved into
France at some point in their lives. His status, however, caused a stir as some people debated
over his suitability as one of the players in the team. He, however, was unperturbed by what
people were saying about him.
Tresor had managed to join the national team, and that was what mattered at the time.
Sin 1978, he sang a song for himself in which he said, “Good old Marius! I am comfortable in
my own skin” (Dubois 102). At one time, Marius saved the team of France after scoring a goal
towards the end of the ninety minutes (Dubois 144). His goal was shortly followed by that of
Alan Giresse, and they won the game. Fans were ecstatic, and that was one of the highlights of
his football career. He made history, and his playing skills were extraordinary. He was a good
player, and he celebrated his achievements.
e. Lilian Thuram
Lilian Thuram played for the French time at the same time as Zidane. The two players
were retiring at the same time. In 2004, Thuram was one of the two most important players that
made up the national team. This explains why he was recalled by the coach to play for the team
one more time and represent it in the 2006 world cup. His decision to go back and represent the
country despite having retired from Football demonstrated his spirit of nationalism. Thuram was
born in France, Guadeloupe. Thuram was a football icon. He was a star in and out of the field.
He was born at the edges of French society, as described by Dubois. Dubois depicts why Thuram
is a significant player in the history of soccer and the long, athletic tradition (Dubois 25). He,
alongside Zidane, made history by being examples of how Football has created its own empire

Surname 4
despite the complexities of the anti-colonial resistance and the colonial rule itself. Thus, Thuram
is a phenomenal player and a writer of history.
f. Zinedine Zidane
Dubois describes Zidane as one of the most important players in the French team between
1998 and 2004 (Dubois 15). Zidane was among the players who won the world in 1998. Prior to
this, the French team ad not been performing well. However, in 1998, they made the country
proud. Zidane was quite a good player, and this explains why in 2004 when he retired from
Football, the French coach requested him to come back and ply for the team one more time.
Although the games that followed were difficult, the team did well and won the game that was
decisive. Zidane was loved by football fans. During the 2006 world cup, fans filled the stadium.
They were eager to watch Zidane play for the national team for the last time. Fans even bought
tickets to go to Paris and watch their favorite player make history.
Zidane had a history in Algeria. His parents had moved to France from Algeria when it
was still a colony under France. The player had then spent most of his time crisscrossing the two
countries. His parents had chosen to remain in France even after Algeria regained its
independence. In 2006, he played for France, and Dubois describes him as a symbol of
reconciliation between France and Algeria, given the dark past between the two nations.
Question Two
In soccer, Dubois shows connections between the different teams and how players
interact. The author gives an example of Marius Tresor, a football star born in Sainte- Anne,
Guadeloupe (Dubois 100). Tresor joined a team called Juventus de Sainte-Anne. In 1964, the
team, which comprised Tresor and other players, won a tournament. They were playing against

Surname 5
teams from French Guiana, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. Juventus de Sainte-Anne also later
travelled to France, where they took part in the French competition cup. A few players would ten
proceed to France to pursue their professional careers.
French Football was more than just a sport. It gave immigrants roots in the country.
Dubois notes that politics infused Football in Algeria and Tunisia, Guadeloupe and Martinique
and Senegal. Some players who played in the national team were from French colonies in North
Africa. Presence of such players with colonial and immigrant backgrounds often initiated
discussions. People wondered whether, indeed, these players were capable o representing the
nation, yet they were from other countries. Their identity was questioned. The first French team
won the world cup in 1998.
The triumphant team comprised Zidane and Thuram, among other players (Dubois 39).
The presence of these players in the team and the fact that they won instilled confidence in the
citizens. The players would still represent France even if they had other backgrounds. It became
apparent that state, territory, and population had never defined the French republic. It was more
of overlapping nationalities, legalities and backgrounds. Political formations also differed, and
these, combined with contradictions from time to time, defined what it really meant to be a
republican in France (Dubois 40).
Question Three
In France, banlieue is the suburbs. Dubois writes a lot about these neighbourhoods in the
book. For instance, he notes that the town of Saint-Denis had mushroomed into a large banlieue
(Dubois 30). Based on this context, it means that the concept of banlieues is becoming more
popular in recent years. The author notes that during the 1950s, when Zidane’s father was

Surname 6
working in Saint-Denis, it had not developed into a banlieue. This particular banlieue was home
to many immigrants, most of whom had their origin from West and North Africa. As the author
continues in other chapters, it becomes apparent that banlieues were mainly inhabited by
immigrants. One commonality about these banlieues is that they were characterized by poverty
and isolation (Dubois 31). One unfortunate event occurred in November 2005 when an
insurrection exploded in one of the banlieues. This signals that insecurity in these neighborhoods
is high.
The author notes how Thiram, a young resident in one of the banlieues, had spoken about
the government’s neglect and how it did not act on the problems facing the people in these
neighborhoods. In 2006, the country’s football team took to the field to represent the country.
They had memories of the dark past in their country and the social problems that affected their
people. The victory was definitely a relief. People had a reason to celebrate. For the first time
after a long time, there was a genuine joy.
The team that represented the country had a personal relationship with banlieue
neighborhoods. Out of the twenty-three players, seventeen had families who originated from
West or North Africa (Dubois 32). Others came from the French Caribbean or the Indian Ocean.
The author notes that nearly everyone in the team had a history of the banlieue. They had spent a
part of their lives in these neighborhoods. It is safe to say that banlieues were well represented in
the world cup football competition. When the team won, the banlieues had won.
The banlieues seem to have been producing stars. The author remarks that Thiery Henry
had at some point in his life lived in a banlieue. The author notes, “In 2006, Thierry Henry (who
has scored more goals for the French team than any other player in its history) told a journalist in
Martinique that he remained deeply connected to the Antilles. Although he had grown up in a

Surname 7
banlieue of Paris, he had always “lived in the Antilles in [his] mind” (Dubois 138). They have
been producing players, and this was somewhat a message of hope to other residents of
banlieues. Despite the difficulties encountered within these neighborhoods, it is still possible to
have a bright future.
Living in banlieue regions was difficult, as described by the author. He notes that the
election that occurred one year before the world cup had seen immigrants who live in these
regions promised full recognition as France citizens. They would not be deported. Ower, these
promises were not fulfilled. A young Algerian woman was deported, and this saw massive riots
in banlieue regions (Dubois 147). Young men resulted to burning cars because they felt
neglected. They were protesting police harassment. Most cars were stolen from cities and driven
to the banlieue where they would be set ablaze. The year before the world cup was thus a violent
one. Football and the win thus signalled a new France. It was indeed a new dawn for the country.
Question Four
In chapter 7, Dubois uses the concept “La France Metisse”. In the chapter, the author
explains the unity and joy that was experienced in France. For the first time in many years,
people looked past their differences. One journalist commented, “It’s a victory for all of France”
(Dubois 268). Football brought people all over France together to celebrate their nationality. The
author compares the day’s mood to that experienced in 1944, when Paris was liberated from the
Germans. Since then, the country had not experienced such joys. It was indeed a great day for all
the people of France.
Winning the world cup seemed to solve many social problems that had been plaguing
France. For instance, Dubois notes that there were “no more social classes, no more provincials

Surname 8
or banlieusards” (Dubois 269). The country was together, and people were in good moods.
Everyone was proud of their nationality. Football united the country, and even strangers became
instant friends. France was mixed, comprising of different races and ethnicities, but at this
particular time, that did not matter. At one time, the celebrations turned horrific when a
celebrating woman drove straight into a crowd injuring several people and killing one man on
the spot (Dubois 272). The unfortunate incident did not dampen the moods. People all over the
country were all proud of their country. In chapter seven, the author demonstrates the power of
Football.

Surname 9

Work Cited

Dubois, Laurent. Soccer Empire: The World Cup and The Future of France. Berkeley,
University of California Press, 2010. [ ISBN: 978-0-520-26978-1]