I hate to say it, but this video of France’s team bus is a fairly accurate reflection of the squad’s performance in Swissaustria.

In the process I thought I’d share with you a couple of my favorite clips of his announcing.

First we have the “first selection for the France team, first goal” clip, specifically about Benzema, which came from the game last March against Austria. I loved the almost paternal pride in his voice, as if he were watching his own kids come of age.

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France – Autriche 1-0 Benzema
Uploaded by forzalyonnais69

And of course there’s the clip I’ll always remember him for: The unforgettable, anguished, “Mais pourquoi?” (”But why?”) after the headbutt in the WC 06 final.

And this is also a fun one, the highlights of his commentary on Zidane in the France-Brazil game in WC’06.

And last, I can’t find an embed code for this one, but here is a nice tribute from before the France England game.

He is irreplaceable.

I’d love to see any of your own links or hear your memories.

I adore them. They charm me. There’s a roughness and an edge and a vitality to both that I love.

Seriously, when I was in Paris in September, I came home with a PSG keychain for my son. And it’s not that he wasn’t grateful, but I could also tell he wasn’t overwhelmed with the love. And I’m thinking, “Fantastic! I get to keep it for myself!”

Of the two, Nico has at last apparently found redemption.

But PSG — club and fans alike — is still kind of like an ultra-charming, well-intentioned juvenile delinquent. The one you adore so much that you absolutely, positively believe them each time they say they’re going to start coming home before curfew and going back to school.

You trust them, your hopes are raised, and then… Dammit, there they go again.

So how appropriate is it that Anelka has expressed an interest in investing in PSG to lift them out of the doldrums?

“I love this club,” he said on radio station RMC. “I really want to win something and to show that there is a great club in Paris.

“I am ready to put money because I am confident in the club that I love. Why not, at the end of my career, doing something with PSG?

“We have to think of a different strategy, changing something in the club for next year. I am a fan for life and will always be behind the club.”

Like I said: A match made in heaven or what?

First, we’re starting Euro coverage over at the Euro ‘08 page of World Cup Blog. I did a quick Thierry Henry profile that included an excellent video from Reebok, where Henry talks about growing up in a rough banlieue outside of Paris. Love Henry or hate him, you need to watch this video. It gives some fascinating insights into some of the factors that made him what he is.

Second, Jen over at From a Left Wing has an interesting translation of an article from “So Foot” magazine. Title: “Zidane, Corporate Robot? From This Month’s ‘So Foot’.” Also extremely interesting.

And last, after I posted the shirt swap photo yesterday, my brain just wouldn’t let it go. The result is this post on what REALLY happened in the shirt swap. Yes, I’m serious. Why would you question me?

Happy reading!

As I was surfing the web this morning, my first morning back, I realized something: I have gone far too long without giving you a photo of a French player with no shirt. So let’s remedy that, shall we?

This is our very own not-quite-A-string Philippe Mexes, swapping shirts with none other than Cristiano Ronaldo after the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals between Roma and ManU last week.

What do you think? Do they scan the field before each game thinking, “Who, oh, who is beautiful enough to wear my shirt when I’ve finished with it? Who could wear it without defiling the number, while still not being quite as beautiful as me?” Do they have, like, an internal Beatiful Person Homing Beacon for just these occasions? Would Cristiano Ronaldo spontaneously combust if for some reason he had to swap shirts with Marco Materazzi?

Enquiring minds want to know.

And now, as soon as this is posted, I would like to officially declare the coverage of Euro 2008 to be open. Tune back regularly (and I mean regularly) between now and June to get thoughts on France’s chances in the competition from my wonderful co-blogger Jeff and me

Allez les bleus!

(And a huge thanks to my favorite guilty pleasure Kickette for the photo find.)

We should all be so out of shape.

He was there to do some charity work.

“It was a different story on his visit to a local shanty town. His plan to open a sports hall was cut short when, feeling a little worn down by the travelling, he left after just seven minutes when hordes of journalists and locals advanced. But he still had time to miss a penalty against a local politician.”

Zing. Ouch. I think I’ll head off to find some less negative reporting.

A huge thanks to Jeff for taking the reins of this blog while I’ve been busy elsewhere. I’m taking off on Thursday for Europe, where yes, I will be watching our boys play England next Wednesday.

So. Excited.

When I get back, Jeff and I will be splitting the France blogging duties as we head into Euros. It’s going to be a wild ride, so I think it will take two of us.

Next up, The List. So stay tuned.

Alas, there is apparently a dog by the same name.

What a disappointment.

But this gives me the chance to share some good news. I know that regular readers have noticed that I’ve been neglecting this blog terribly lately. I’ve been doing a lot of writing over on The Offside’s main page, and covering the LA Galaxy as they head into their first fully-Beckham’ed season, and I’ve taken on the job of MLS Editor over there as well. What this means is that there has been a lot less time for my first true love, the France NT.

I’m not happy about this situation, and my commitment to the team and this blog are as strong as ever. My plan is to continue to post regularly.

But I’m also thrilled to announce that Jeff of Wicked Deflection has agreed to copilot this blog at least through Euros. This means that all of us will get more France news and more opportunities to discuss our boys in bleu.

I was very happy he agreed to come on board because he has the three qualities I was hoping to find in a co-blogger:

1) He loves the team (his wife is French)
2) He doesn’t take any of this stuff too personally, and
3) He has a sharp sense of humor.

And yes, I will still be contributing regularly. Probably even more regularly now that I don’t have to worry about having full responsibility. But I think you’re going to find this arrangement to be a big improvement over what we’ve had these past few weeks.

Please give him a friendly welcome, and Allez les bleus!

What does it mean? I’ll tell you what it means.

It means: DAMN, I love this gig.

(Wait. Did I just say that?)

(Thanks, Massaer!)

The last big interview I saw with Zidane was close to a year ago, and he sounded unsettled. Now he sounds happy with life, thrilled to be spending time on charity and with his family, and ready to move on to the next phase. Which, with luck will involve soccer in some form. But, alas, not on the field. (And no, sadly, he’s definitely not coming to MLS.)

Original article is here. Google translation to English is here. The google translation is a much better one than usual. I didn’t even need alcohol to understand most of it.

A few of my favorite parts:

He spends the first part of the interview talking about the parachute jump he did for the ELA charity show. (Remember, last year, he learned to ride dressage.) Video of the jump is at the bottom. And then we get this:

I have no regrets about my decision [to retire]. But today, it is true that I miss the pitch. I practiced seventeen years the highest level … Inevitably, when you stop … There is a break that is pleasant, the urge to cut, but, at a given moment, you feel a lack. The adrenaline that you want and need. Not necessarily with competition. Rather with all these diffuse sensations: the pressure of the game, the victory … That lack. Today, I take it easy, quiet. I live my life, I spend more time with my family. Everything that I did not do before. I recovered something and lost something else.

This state of grace where you taste your freedom ends when? Now. The lack manifests itself a year and a half later. Athletes admit they feel “wrong” or even “dirty” when they do not train … Not dirty, but it is true that when I was playing, after two or three days of rest, I was not well. I needed to train every day. Inevitably, when you no longer move… I made the cut a good time: two months of vacation to do nothing physically. Not even a ten metre race! But after that, I needed to recover myself, to not [vegetate.]

And:

When I make a trip to Bangladesh on behalf of Dannon, I take a real pleasure in doing it. It’s the same when I prepare a match with the United Nations for “friends of Zidane and Ronaldo.” When I go to Niger as roving ambassador of UNDP (UN Programme for Development), it delights me! (With conviction, he support his words with hand gestures.) It give me pleasure to be back on the field, for example, in front of this woman who gave birth to triplets. We put up a clinic, where before the same woman had given birth at home. To see that, or to see a literacy school frequented by women 50 years of age who cannot read, that gives me pleasure. And, more than that, I can share it with my children.

You were in Niger with your children? Yes, I brought my three children. For three years my son Lucas has had a pen-pal in Niger. For a long time he wanted to go visit him. We worked it out with his teacher. It’s good that they see lives different from their own. I feel very lucky to share it with my children. I have also been able to take them to Egypt, Indonesia. It’s extraordinary!

Be sure to read the rest of the interview, because it’s very interesting. And if you’re a Zidane fan, you’ll come away happy that he seems to be enjoying his life.

(Thanks to Talia and Doumé and Alexander for the links)

And now for that sky-diving video:

I’ve enjoyed your comments (or your silent lurking) over the past year, but now I want you to tell me about yourself. Name (or pseudonym), location, what your connection is to the France NT, who your favorite player is, what you’d like to see me write more about, and anything else you want to say.

And I’m leaving this post up till you respond, so you might as well get it over with.

I’m thinking about doing a fun photo montage or two next week, and the sooner I get answers, the sooner I’ll get around to putting it together.

French speakers, feel free to respond en français if it’s easier.

Sound off!