We do not post much on sports at Pave. Sports roll on in their seasons quite removed from the political life of a nation. We recognize that there is uplift to a glum nation's spirits when a hard contest is won. But such uplift does not produce competent government, successful policy, or redress injustices decades in the making. Still it's nice to project the national character onto a winner.

France, a country fed up with the present and afraid of the future, where the national mood could not be more depressed -- and with good cause, is wishing herself back to 1998 when a young soccer midfielder, Zinedine Zidane, heaped glory on France.

FRANCE WORLD CUP SQUAD COUNTING ON ZIZOU FACTOR
PARIS May 25, 2006 (AFP)

We have earlier remarked the rapturous French reception of M. Zidane's unretirement. And though Pave holds no animus for France on the soccer field, we feel the French have written themselves a storybook ending that they will not see on the pitch.

FRANCE: FFIFA WORLD RANKING: 7, ODDS: 12-1

The cliché
Insouciant, cultured and full of Gallic flair, with a soupçon of je ne sais quoi.

The reality
Eight years after a gritty victory France are still relying on the same talent. The team is overly dependent on three men who have already retired from international football once - Zidane, Thuram and Makelele - so the last hurrah is unlikely to end with much of a cheer. Henry can still whizz around without the aid of a zimmer frame but there are surely too many creaking bones elsewhere for a serious tilt at the title.

June 13, 2006: France draws Switzerland (World ranking 35th, Odds 150-1), 0-0

HENRY SHRUGS OFF POOR FRENCH WORLD CUP START
June 14, 2006 (AFP)

FRANCE ON ROAD TO NOWHERE
June 18, 2006 (Telegraph)

June 18, 2006: France draws South Korea (World ranking 30th, Odds 200-1), 1-1; Zizou picks up his second booking and is suspended.

FRANCE IN 'DESPAIR' OVER DRAW WITH KOREA
June 19, 2006 (AFP)

WE WILL DO IT FOR ZIDANE: FRANCE WORLD CUP SQUAD

LEIPZIG June 19, 2006 (AFP) - France's struggling World Cup stars have insisted they still have a chance of reaching the last 16 despite a second successive draw which leaves their hopes in the balance. ... France will almost certainly have to beat Togo by several goals in their final group match.

FRANCE WILL WIN WITHOUT ZIDANE, SAYS HENRY
June 20, 2006 (Telegraph)

France plays Togo (World ranking 59th, Odds 500-1) this Friday.

PFFT (What is this?): Reality mars French storybook 3½ | Rayonnement français 0