Though England’s Premier League has long relied on new blood–and rising stars–from foreign nations, binge buying by English …
France
Soccer Star Zlatan Ibrahimovic Joins PSG — and Qatari Owner’s Business Empire
The transfer of Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Milan to Paris Saint-Germain provides unprecedented star power and offensive punch to the French club — and a new asset to the wider business plans of its Qatari owner.
Euro 2012: England-France Clash Reprises an International Soccer Paradox
England’s pro league is far stronger than France’s, yet its national team is far weaker
Euro 2012: Soccer Gets its War On, But Players Can’t Take the Patriotism Seriously
How international tournaments remain an opportunity for nostalgic but usually harmless pantomime jingoism.
Racism and Euro 2012: Football’s Ongoing Struggle
The rosters of many Euro 2012 teams are a melting pot – one that modern-day Europe should start getting used to.
French Bad Boy Nicolas Anelka Takes Over Chinese Soccer Team
Can the controversial Frenchman steer his Chinese club to glory in his first stint at management?
Keeping ScoreSoccer
Women’s World Cup: Team USA Moves On to the Finals
If America wins this World Cup, can we just bronze Abby Wambach’s head?
Keeping ScoreTennis
Nadal Takes the French Open After Federer Falters
For the fourth time in French Open history, Roger Federer faced Rafael Nadal in the final. And for the fourth time, Federer failed to beat his arch-rival on the Roland Garros clay.
Thierry Henry, Meet New York. New York, Meet Thierry Henry
The World Cup might just have finished but soccer hasn’t finished with you. And Major League Soccer is making a major league signing.
Multipolar Dreaming
Japan’s inspiring play last night (and Tony’s post) have me daring to wish for what in any other Cup would have been the impossible: greatly favored sides being shown the door by nominally modest rivals. If France and Italy can both go out in disgrace, and the U.S. finish ahead of England, why not hope for (but not lay lots of money …
Ah, They’re Home! After Them!
It just keeps getting uglier. Not 48 hours after their World Cup elimination, members of France’s soccer team returned to a French public whose lust for pay-back hasn’t been seen since locals who collaborated with Nazi troops were being shot or shorn of their hair. Indeed, the public, press, and political denunciation of the …
The Agony of Defeat (Not To Mention Group Suicide)
And so the miracle the entire world had waited for transpired after all. No, France didn’t pull itself out of the pathetic, self-mocking off-field tantrums for which it had become a laughing-stock in recent days. And didn’t knock in enough goals to beat South Africa and sneak into the knock-out round as Mexico lost against Uruguay. …
For France, There’s World Cup Hope in a Player Rebellion
The news that France’s players had refused to train on Sunday in protest at the decision by those running the team to send home potty-mouthed striker Nicolas Anelka was widely interpreted as a sign that Les Bleus have imploded. Not so fast. I’d argue that the player rebellion is, in fact, the best thing that could have happened to this …
