Keeping their feet on the ground

through the streets of paris there will be celebration france is taking home the world cup

We wish…it would be soooo cool

we can’t automatically call us champions just because we beat brazil we can count our chickens before they hatch how ever that is said but i mean its a risky situation and Portugal can’t be underestimated especually by the players themselves i hope no card will be thrown during this game and that Portugal will play as fair as thier fans say they are but any ways may the best team win i send my best wishes to both and allez les bleus!!

Two great teams… it’s gonna be tough… Never underestimate the opponent, that’s our strength…!!

ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!!!!

i have already predicted that France will play Germany in the finals even before they played Spain. i will love France to win the world cup but as a fair minded critic, i can see germany winning the cup. the chickens have made me proud.

Cock-a-doodle-do, or “cocorico”, as the French say it, is the sound of the rooster, which is the French national mascot.

“Cocorico” means that everyone on TV is saying that the french team is the best and that they will win.

The coach is right to stay clear of all that noise; it can only harm the players.

Allez les bleus!!

I really and truly hope that the French team don’t overestimate themselves and underestimate the Portuguese, who, despite some controversy, are an incredibly tough team. They play a very similar game to the Frenhc in that they have a tough defense and a hard and constant attacking front and very good midfield. All in all two very balanced teams.

I still think it’s going to go to penalties, maybe after a 1-1 draw, and that makes me very nervous after Ricardo’s record breaking saves against England.

However, I’m pretty sure the French team are aware of the danger posed by the Portuguese and will take the game forward.

Although Zidane’s game makes me weepy eyed because it’s so good, I really hope that Malouda finally manages a goal. He’s being trying so hard for the last few games. And I hope that Trezeguet gets substituted in and also finally manages a shot. One gets the feeling that he has so much potential that he could realise if he would just fit in better with the team.

As for diving and simulations, well, Henry’s dive led to a goal against Spain, so it isn’t only Potugal that has its share of divers and actors, and I’m pretty sure that the ref will be on the lookout now for such things after some previous performances.

I’m hoping for France but Portuga could just as easily win it.

Pour nous
Pour vous
Zizou surtout!

Feo,

I am not going to say that Henry is some saint and that he nevers hits the deck at opportune times.

But, Henry is not a serial diver. I have watched a great many of his Arsenal games, and I honestly cannot recall any incident in which Henry was struck by a strange attack of gravity.

If he was known to dive, I would not be a fan of his.

I have the good fortune of being able to watch football from several different countries on TV. Regardless of the quality of the players, I simply cannot watch, for example, Argentinian league football.

“I went to see a diving competition and a football match started”.

For some reason, even with their amazing athletic abilities, Central and South American players just have a problem standing up. European leagues certainly feature some diving, but not nearly as much as those from South America.

I know that my view is partly a cultural reflection. In the US, any athlete, whether they are 5 or 45 – they will hear only two words if they fall down: “Get Up !” Part of that comes from the influence of American Football. This is an oversimplification, but the most admired players are those who have an amazing ability to keep standing and running despite the best efforts of several other players.

If you grow up with that, and then see grown men intentionally falling down and pretending to be injured in order to gain an advantage – it would drive you crazy.

Congratulations to a great game against Brazil. Now mes amis (sp?) please keep your fingers crossed for Germany when they play against Italy tomorrow/today. A German victory would ascertain a fine final game. I think you guys play too great to want to put up with the Italian’s BS.

their jersey has “FFF” written on it… French Fried Fowl

Please discuss more about racist spain here:
http://racistspain.blogspot.com/
Please dont let the spaniards bring hate in our beautiful game.

Not to spoil your party or enthusiasm, but shouldn’t you say “Allez les blacks?” Not that I’m much of a fan of Mr. Le Pen, but how representative is for the Gaul cocorico (or Asterix & Obelix) a team of African imports (knowing that France is after all the country of the cocorico)? If they win is it the cocorico who won or not?

Free Drive Ro:

You are in the USA? Would you say the same about our dream team you dumb SOB?
Freakin’ inbred peasant.

Kiri: I find your reply quite offensive. For you to come on so strong I must have touched a very sensitive spot.
Actually I’m not American, but United States as you probably know are a country of immigrants, unlike France where the overwhelming majority is white European. No offence to African people (Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana were among my favorites in this World Cup), but do you really find this team representative for France?

Kiri: You being probably American? may have no idea what I’m talking about: the notion of nation have a different connotation for Europeans. Having an Italian passport doesn’t make you Italian in the eyes of 99.9% of the Italians. Same in Japan or Ghana. US, Canada and other American are exceptions being immigrant countries.That’s just how things are.

As smug as many Canadians tend to be regarding the insularity and xenophobia of our southern neighbors, we do have our share of slackjawed mouthbreathers — witness “Free Drive Ro.” And for that, I unconditionally apologise.

Allez les bleus!

well i don’t think he was being racist when he asked about wether the French team was actually french but yah they are all but 2 or 3 players were born in France and the ones that weren’t moved to France when they were like 4 years old which basically makes them all French citisens cause other wise they would not be able to play on the french team cause if i am not mistaken you have to have the countries nationality inorder to represent them

But please don’t apologise, jds! We can not all of us think just like you and that is what makes our world diverse, isn’t it?

ps do we have any predictions from anyone my heart is racing hear for France and i am not seeing any predictions i want to see some predictions here i hope France wins but i send my best wishes to both teams and may the best team win ps predictions please

France should stay hungry they can beat Potugal if they keep on fighting!!

So many countries with so many people from so many parts of world.

We are all citizens of the world.

Except for people like Free Drive Ro who are so racist inside. Besides the fact that he knows nothing of history and how so many blacks arrived in France for example. And the Good ole’ USA!

We are proud to have people from every corner of the globe, which is what makes it a great country. Diversity is important to make people understand.

The fact that he has to mention that having an Italian passport doesn’t make you Italian. What a joke. How ignorant can you be. I bet you can trace your family back to a country that is not your present one right? Get out of the USA then. We do not need your kind. Like you said, if you have a US passport it doesnt make you American does it?

If you don’t then….there’s the door. You are here for a reason. Because of the country’s greatness and opportunities it brings you.

Hypocrisy at its best.

We do not need you nor want you

Predictions, Predictions racism about our team is in the past and if Zidane saw how we were dealing with this situation he would be very upset with us do what he would do fight and ignore and we already did the fighting part now lets ignore now throw me some predictions on this up comming match Portugal vs France

“Free Drive Ro”, coming from Canada I am disappointed with you… You are one of those stupid whites in Canada thinking that Asians are not Canadians… but they were born in Canada and they are proud of Canada more than you…

You must be a pre-schooler drop out, because your level of education is very low, because Canada is the most diverse country in the world, and I am surprise you still think that low!

Dominech selects players based on Nationality and Ability.

“Free Drive Ro”, go find some pre-schooler blog… this is a blog for grown men!!!

Come on! let’s go back to the purpose of this blog post.
Here are my thoughts on the upcoming France-Portugal.
Well, I hope it’s going to be a great game! I can’t wait to see it!
I am, however, worried about the referee, he officiated US-Italy, and he was quite the trigger-happy kind of referee, I expect yellows and red(s)…and I am afraid he is going to kill the game…darn!

Ref! Don’t even think give a yellow to zidane…grrrrrrrrrrrr

I bow in front of the finality of your judgement, gentlemen! You’ve got me all figured out.
One more thought and I’m gone: ten Brazilian immigrants (or American soldiers from the occupation force) playing for Japan, would you call that Japan too? Cheers and enjoy your world cup!!!

Ref! Don’t even think give a yellow to zidane…grrrrrrrrrrrr

Ref! Don’t even think give a yellow to Figo…grrrrrrrrrrrr

France all the way L’équipe française a tué le Brésil!!! Brazil is overrated so that was expected!

IN FEAR OF THE POTENTIAL THROWINGS OF YELLOW CARDS .. NOO.. NOT ZIDANE OR HENRY!!!

After wiping out the vast majority of the native populations of North America (which is the unmentioned and vastly unknown greatest Holocaust in the history of mankind), after bringing people from Africa as slaves (not as immigrants as you mentioned) you Americans are giving lessons on racism? HA! And I as French whose family have been here for 2000 years and have all the sympathy for immigrants but I as majority don’t feel represented at the World Cup by immigrants who came to France 20 years ago (regadless of color or race or whatever, they could have been Russian or Chinese), if I am racist than what are you?

free drive ro: well, just for you to know: I’m French (born and raised in France) and I’m black and actually, there are lots of black people here in France (born and raised in France as well). France is as much a multi cultural society as the U.S or Canada. So stop focussing on all the French stereotypes,we don’t walk around with a baguette under the arm and we don’t listen to accordeon all day long. So please don’t talk about a country you don’t know and you’ve probably never been to. And most football players playing in the French team are born in France (if not all…)

I second that motion, as a Netherlands fan, watching the portugal game was painful. Hopefully the ref doesnt ruin this game with the cards too.

All the best to you Caroline, this team represents you all right, I have nothing against you, but I am entitled to may opinion too, or you think I am not?

To answer your question I think we should keep on saying “allez les bleus” as the great majority of French people (white, black, from asian or arabic origins) recognised themselves in the French team and have no problem with the fact that the majority of the players are black, so if “WE” french people don’t have a problem with that I don’t really understand why the rest of the world should…
(P.S: I’ve got a French passport and nobody never made me feel like a “second zone French citizen”)

Good point, Caroline! Touchée! I was only trying to see how French see this! If all (or the vast majority) of French feel represented then I’ve got nothing more to say and I stand corrected!
Forca Portugal!!!

no offense!
allez la France!

awsome got that fixed now what are some predictions for this game…

ok Antoine…2-1 France.
How’s that?
A little biased I know…Go France!

ok Antoine
it will be tight but I think
Portugal will win by one goal (no more penalties pleeeease!)
Forca Portugal!

Portugal 2 – 3 France it’ll be tough game if Portugal stops diving they’ve a fantastic team.

Ye…I don’t want the penalties either. Better to win or lose before that.

Man, those Polish guys – their families must be proud.

“OK you Polacks, listen up. Form 2 lines. Over here: Genocide. Over there: Join Our Side.”

I can’t believe that the Germans aren’t ashamed that some of us sub-human Slavs are carrying the rest of the team.

There have to be some Germans who cannot dig the fact that their team has those two guys scoring all of the goals.

I really don’t know where I stand on this. It must be a national disgrace (in the view of many Germans) that there are Polish last names on German uniforms – that is the upside.

Even though they are making a mockery of German national pride (again – a good thing), the fact that they have set new standards for selling out – that I don’t like so much.

Now, this would be nice to see – the Polish guys score the only goals in the upcoming match and Germany goes to the final. (Nothing against Italy – this just has to happen to set up the situation).

Then, on the day of the final, none of the guys with Polish last names show up.

If my paying $ 2500 would make that happen, I would pay it in a second.

I was amazed to see Frenchmen of African origin play with a “Do or Die” attitude for their adopted homeland France in the recent World Cup matches. Patriotism lies in the heart, not on the skin.

yea frenchies, stay on the ground, it ain’t over yet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA

Well, first semifinal went according to the plan. Now Portugal have to win for an all out Latin final.

Forca Portugal!

well said pallavi,if only they can comprehend the level of stupidity behind this topic racism.
by the way this nationalism thing has brought wars in human history.. so i would just say the hell with your national prides too..

well if France or Protugal win it will be a latin final anyways cause they are both latin or derive from latin so best wishes and may the best team win allez les bleus

I guess some people have no clue that France is a latin country as well.

Read some more.

Armando:

Nobody invited you, stay off the world cup…oh wait…you are!

Portugal-France will be tough, especially with Deco back in the middle. If France makes it through – and I think they will – Domenech just might have to finally play two forwards and start Trezeguet. The Italian defense looked good against Germany. I can’t stand Italian football, but the defense must be dealt with and the relatively low number of goals from the French side is going to have to change.

As for the worn-out “the French are all Africans” theme, that’s Le Pen’s song and dance. Le Pen represent the racist and fascist element of France. Like America’s David Duke, Pat Buchanan, Trent Lott, etc., etc.

France is indeed in large part a country of immigrants. Before African and Maghrebian immigration, it was Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. It is a welcoming country and an immigrant country. Only two of the French players weren’t born in France proper, but they were born in current French colonies and moved to mainland France when they were very young. Anyone who says that the French team is not French relies on the same racist assumption that Le Pen does: that only white people are Europeans and only pure blood matters. Whatever else you imagine you might be saying, this assumption is racist, not to mention ignorant of French history and just plain stupid.

Legio I Italica destroyed the German barbarians and are marching victorius towards Berlin. Legion IX Lusitana under the command of Iulius Figus is engaging the enemy tommorow with orders to destroy Carthage and punish Hannibal. Will we have a Pax Romana on Sunday in Berlin or will Hannibal try and upset the natural order of things?
For my part I hear the legions marching. Ave Roma!

For Antoine and Latin Countries 101: I don’t think Malouda, Makelele or Abidail would qualify as Latin Pretorian guards. Sorry, you don’t have enough soldiers for a legion. You’ll have to play Carthage tommorow.

I don’t really care if the French Players are African-French or Arab-French, Portugal is going to
win the game.

As for Spike Lee, he is the same guy who booed the white David Lee Knicks draft pick who turned out to be a steal in the 2005 draft. Why did he boo the pick, because David Lee was white, this even though he is one of the most athletic players on the Knicks.

Portugal will win.

I really hope Portugal wins tomorrow, but I must admit….the French team is very powerful if they keep playing this way.

To all Portugal supporters such as COELHO and FREE DRIVE RO….you do not speak for us educated Portuguese. I for one am ashamed of your racist comments (and YES, they are VERY racist) and the fact that you only post here to insult the adversary will only play against yourselves.

If you are not Portuguese then refrain from making comments, we do not want you as fans.

If indeed you are Portuguese then you are a disgrace to our great nation.

Viva Portugal
Vive La France
Viva a United World

It’s good that you’re educated, Portugal fan. Education is a good thing and useful to people. Without education you would be racist and wouldn’t be able to tell right from wrong. It’s a shame the country you live in, the world in general, doesn’t have more educated people like you

Free Drive Ro:
I think you lack a fundamental notion: in today’s world, race does not (and should not) define a country. A true and strong sense of national pride is all I feel is necessary to play on a national team.
Patrick Vieira was born in Senegal, and moved to France when he was 8. He was then raised in France and did not even return to Senegal until he was 28. I have no doubt that Vieira feels a tremendous amount of allegiance to France, even though he is not “French” by your standards. And to me, and the rest of France, Vieira has every right to represent France and the French people in this world cup. And I know for a fact that the french people as a whole have no problem with it.
The color of his skin, his ethnic origin or even his place of birth have very little to do with it.
On that note, allez les bleus!!

Men, Les bleus reprezent french people… no matter with that.
Just go to “chatelet les halles” right in the center of Paris. You’ll see if france is a bunch of white guyz.

If football players should respect ratio, Usa should have at least 50% of obese men in the team.

We don’t choose player according to their skin but because they play good and they are french.

What else? good luck portugal and…

Allez les blancs!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zidane if you do it, I’ll have to buy your 2nd DVD.

Very tough match, perhaps boring as the teams should neutralize each other with their strong defense.
I think that it will be a 1-0 or a tie with penalties at the end.

Take care to your nerves tonight if your French or Portuguese…

Go Guys, watch your backs and win. We wish you the best of luck from the bottom of our hearts, we know you can do it. Go guys and kick some butt
Good luck Good luck Good luck

Racism: The belief that a particular race is superior to others. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
Xenophobia: Fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign.
…..
I have many black coworkers and friends and they unanimously cheered for the African teams and France. They are all Canadian.Nobody called them racist or xenophobic. Read the definitions before throwing insults. I for one cheered for Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire for some games, but for the main part I cheerd for white European teams (and mainly Italy and Portugal as they have Latin roots). If I support a team based on race, it doesn’t make me a racist, I don’t think so. Only someone lacking education could say that (are you paying attention, Portugal fan?) .
For me France is the French revolution, JJ Rousseau, Voltaire, Zola, Baudelaire, Sartre, etc. All a bunch of white people. By the same token I don’t know any black Italians (if there are some they are not representative). For the diverse cultures of Canada or USA it may be hard to understand that Europe means mainly white people which are bound together by thousands of years of history. Yes Helmut, Europeans are (mainly) white. Even in France, Shuai,non-white population stay under 5% (and you may be right, it’s concentrated mainly in Paris). All being said and done, let the best team win, but don’t abuse me for cheering for the Portuguese! ) Forca!!

“If I support a team based on race, it doesn’t make me a racist, I don’t think so”

lol of course it does. You can support any team you want, but if its because of the race of its players instead of their nationality it’s racism.

France has been a country of immigrants at least since the end of WWII, when the gov’t encouraged thousands of Algerians to emigrate to help with the labor shortage. There are millions of French people of African/Arab/Asian origin who were born there, grew up there in towns and communinities of immigrants and their descendants. Much like the US. The US has been an immigrant country for much longer than France but France’s recent history has made it one as well. Which is why idiots like Le Pen are so irritated with the makeup of the country’s football team. Henry, Zidane and the rest are products of French culture and nationality. They are French. Just like millions of American sons and daughters of immigrants who were born and raised here are American. Or immigrants who’ve lived in the US many years, become citizens and made their lives here are American.

Haarf: Read the definition again. If cheering for one race is racism, then all the people I know (Chinese, Black, Indian, White, etc.) are racist. It means I live in a multicultural racist society and never realized it until you pointed it to me. For my part, I think racism has something to do with putting the other races down not cheering for your own race. I also think a distinction in necessary between the French people and the French nation as it is today. The nation may include also Arab, African and other people, I guess.

ALLEZ BLUE BLANC ROUGE!!!
FRANCE 4 PORT 2
HENRY MVP

And what about all these other-than-Canadian flagged cars we had in Canada for the past three weeks; makes one wonder what Canadian citizenship means to them and also points out that a heck of a lot of people don’t forget their history and where their roots are.

Fantastic Fantastic,

Well done France, you out played and out classed them and Payback big time for England. Thank you

The best team won! Gods (the FIFA referee) have spoken! My black coworkers are in ecstasy! Hannibal has upset the natural order of things! Legio IX Lusitana is in shreds coming home!
Long live football!!!!

Portugal has shown me today that they LOVE to dive. Amazing how they keep diving within the area.

Please let me sincerely apologies for my temper and bad mouthing in my previous interventions. on the Brish blog
I was out of order due to some taunting and insults on our blog comming from elements of the Portuguese supporters.

The portuguese, (team) tried everything in the book to get their opponents red carded, diving so much it was not funny any more , a disgrace to the beautiful game. And to their Nation There is winning fair square and there is winning via devious means, and you must agree with me the difference is massive. In fact I ‘d rather admire an honorable looser that did its best to a a cheat, would’ny you?
This time the Portuguese (team) have toned it down.
You did your best Portugal, diving, swimming again (rather naively) but generally speaking you tried your honest best but it seems that the referee was clued up this time, seeing through most simulations.
Never the less I start to think I am the idealist naïve one here and that may be football is by nature not that beautiful? Fouls and tackle have unfortunately to be expected, as well, as Nationalism and all that goes with it. I saddens me
However, this game was beautiful, not to the standard of Francevs Brasil or Italy vsGermany, but still.
Now I suppose that the Portuguese will show us how to loose? There was a lot message of this kind on the British blog from éducated Portuguese fans
Please go to the british blog to see for yourself what some of the Portos supporters are up to…
SO….
Gaspachio for Portugal, Champagne forFrance. Both beverage are better served cold,
I personally prefer the second though
ADIEUS PORTUGAL
xxx VIVE LA FRANCE

To All the Politicians in this Page:

Hey guys, lets talk about futball (or soccer as it’s known here in U.S.) This is a page about the World Cup, not about racial or ethnic politics.

That said, both France & Portugal played a great, clean game today. It was a fun tug-of-war between two equally matched teams.

http://www.hateronaldo.com/games.php#
An insight on Portuguese training secrets.

Bravo les Bleus!

Free Drive Ro | YOU ARE A BORE! Yawn

I was reading at all the racist comments regarding the French team on this forum.

First of all, shut up if you don’t know what you are talking about. Most players in the French team were born in France including Zidane and Henry.

Here is the list of all players in the team with their respecive place of birth:

Barthez/Lavelanet FRANCE
Coupet/Le puy en Velay FRANCE
Landreau/Machecoul
Abidal/Lyon FRANCE
Boumsong/Cameroun Chimbonda/guadeloupe FRANCE
Gallas/Asnières FRANCE
Givet/Arles FRANCE
Sagnol/StEtienne FRANCE
Silvestre/Chambray FRANCE
Thuram/Point à Pitre FRANCE
Dhorasso/Harfleur FRANCE Diara/Villepinte FRANCE
Makélélé/Zaïre
Malouda/Cayenne FRANCE
Ribery/Boulogne/mer FRANCE
Viéra/Sénégal
Zidane/Marseille FRANCE
Govou/Le puy en Velay FRANCE
Henry/Les Ulis FRANCE
Saha/Paris FRANCE
Trézéguet/Rouen FRANCE
Wiltord/Neuilly sur Marne FRANCE

So out of 23 players, 20 were born in France (that’s 87%)
For your information, Antilles Islands and Guyanna do belong to France.

Second, in the 1970’s and 80’s, France was a country of mass immigration (immigrants accounting for 40% of the population growth)

These millions of immigrants, coming mostly from Africa, do not go to France because they have been offered a job in the French soccer team but because France has a great econony at that time and these people were seeking jobs.

I think its curious that the french team is almost entirely black or north African.
England has many immigrants but no where near that many minorities on their team.

I don’t know why but while I felt fine cheering for Ghana, I didn’t like cheering for France.

I think the French team is mostly spoiled super stars.
Notice Zidane’s outburst drawing a red card.

I think sports will without a doubt become engulfed in the conflicts that are going on in society over race, immigration, class.

Why are the best players in france all from africa? Is it because they are poor so football is the only way out, or is it because they have superior athletic abilities, and if so why?

Why cheer for a team? Is it good that nations cheer for their country against other nations?

I think nationalism is dangerous and any I love france movement will tend towards ethnic nationalism.

The fact is that France is divided on racial lines, and class lines.
Any use of the world cup will reflect these tensions.

You stupid racist pig.

As I mentioned above, %87 of the players in the French team DO COME FROM FRANCE, not Arica.

What’s next? You’re going to say that all the Jewish people in the Hollywood industry should not be considered as American but as Isrealis?

Zidane is the best player of his generation; you can’t deny that. Most people in the soccer business would agree, wherever they are from.
By the way, Zidane just got elected as the Best Player in the 2006 World Cup, eveb though he got a red card at the end.

Do you know what happened between him and Materazzi?
No you don’t so don’t make any judgement until you know the whole story.

You are talking about France being divided along class lines and racial lines.
Well, this is what medias are trying to make you think but this is not true.
And even it was, why would you target France more than the US, Korea (where you are from) or even Italy (divided between north and south) ???

the FREANCH TEAM ROX even though they didnt win….
GOOOO ZIDANE

THE GUY FROM KOREA
YOU NEED TO STOP EATING DOG FOOD

WE WON BUT WE LOVE ZIDANE

NO RACISM
ZIDANE FROM FRANCE OR ALGERIA OR U.S.A OR SUDAN,ITALY
WE ARE ALL THE SAME
ONE HEART

In the World Cup 2006, more than the World Champions, the Award meant for Best Fair Play won by Brazil and Spain seem to be more valuable.
It seems the world has no respect for the Italian Team inspite of winning the Golden Ball.

Pallavi,

Ur a jke on this website: Italy DID NOT win the golden ball !!!

lololol..Kruman , where r u???

And stop talking on “behalf of the world”

Its really looks like you know nothing about football . Go home baby….

Ethnicity:

Bravo! now here’s a guy who thinks right.

Be careful though, there are many ppl on this blog who will headbutt, or even worse, bomb your country if you do that.

Lets all of us fight words with violence! Way to go Zidane supporters!!!! The world has come to this bcoz of your guys, bravo !

Sara,

Thanx for pointing out my mistake. How silly of me !

I typed ‘Golden Ball’ by mistake — it is an error committed while typing in great haste . It should have been the World Cup Trophy. Got everything jumbled. I am extremely sorry for the error made by me in this site. I hope to be careful while typing in future.

luogo interessante, soddisfare interessante, buon!