Le Foot: The Legends of French Football
'All I know for certain, about the morality and the obligations of men, is that I owe it to football.' - Albert Camus. 'This is no cheap cash in, rather it is the best value book to strut its way on to the football shelves for some time.' TOTAL FOOTBALL 'One of the more intriguing books amid the deluge of soccer literarture.' OBSERVER 'French football reached its zenith in the summer of 1998, winning the World Cup for the first time in a tournament played on its home soil. Le Foot brings together a series of articles and stories which take a look at the state of French football both currently, and over the last quarter of the century. All of the big names receive good coverage, from World Cup winners Zidane, Desailly and Barthez, to those who have lit up the English Premier League: Cantona, Ginola and the Arsenal pair of Petit and Vieira. Contributors range from Michel Platini to Salman Rushdie and all aspects of the game are covered, from the players and teams, to coaches, supporters, and even the financial and betting scandals which have afflicted the game in France. The result is a compelling mixture of analysis and insight tinged with the romantic flair evident in much of the best that French football has offered. World Cup winners aside, one is instantly reminded of the French side of the 1980s, one of the greatest sides not to lift the world crown:the incomparable Platini in midfield, one of the true great number 10s in the tradition of Pele, flanked by industrious Fernandez, graceful Tigana and artful Giresse. Zidane could only have dreamt of finding a place in that side. Excellent.' Trevor Crowe, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW