Someone Must Pay: National Identity and Politics in the World Cup

It is World Cup season and I spent my days in Paris, France. If you’re unfamiliar with the festivities, it is a world phenomenon that embodies the true meaning of national pride and identity. I was lucky enough to experience the games first hand.

Exiting the metro, the Eiffel tower was in sight. It is a beautiful structure. I have seen it in many pictures in text books, but the real thing is indescribable and needs to be seen. Larger than life, the tower lights up the night and sparkles every hour on the hour. On the south end of the French monument, there is a large screen that features the day’s games. The park is roughly a quarter mile long with a screen that can be seen by all. This night, it was USA versus Slovenia. This was perfect as I was able to be “American” without feeling the angst of being judged. There were roughly 300 Americans on this field waiting for the game to start; and very few opposing Slovenians. Sitting in our separate groups, everyone was secluded from one another. But when the US entered the field, the crowd stood and applauded with a thunderous roar. It reminded me what it meant to be an American. I felt pride for my country and was excited to hear the national anthem being played over the intercom. I did not feel alone in my cheer, this world cup was expected to attract 125 million viewers per game (http://www.football-marketing.com/2010/06/11/2010-world-cup-will-be-watched-by-record-number-of-viewers/). This is far more than previous years and I knew my friends at home were cheering along with me.

This was a very exciting game. The US was down two goals in the first half, but made a surge in the second to tie the game. Even though the game was a draw, both nationalities were able to respect one another and understand that it was a fantastic game for entertainment. Our group continued to sit on the lawn opposite of the screen for several hours. Here you can relax, talk with your friends, and drink the beverage of your choice. But later in the night it was evident that there had been a team that won. Walking down the large stretch a parade approached. I started to hear horns, then music, and then a distinct language that I was used to hearing in USA. Approximately 50 Mexicans were waving their flag in celebration. Over a microphone, they were cheering for their country and singing their national anthem. Champagne bottles exploded into the air. This means that France has lost! This is unthinkable for a team of such caliber and world renowned talent. Their last win was in 1998, but the team still holds records for most goals scored and best average goals per match (http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/associations/association=fra/worldcup/index.html). Even with this loss, I would have never guessed the reaction that spread through France.

My first encounter with the dismay was sitting next to a Frenchman at a restaurant. He knew we were into soccer and he described how he felt. To sum it up, he repeatedly called the French coach “a piece of shit” and then went on to translate it so we could join in with all of the other French patrons. But it was the next day that we realized the extent of the situation. The headlines read, “A State Scandal”. The team had refused to practice and a few directors walked off the field and retired. President Sarkozy intervened and vowed that he would personally investigate the situation. He said¸” "The head of state asked the ministers to ensure that those responsible learn the lessons of this disaster quickly” (http://www.baynews9.com/article/sports/ap/june/112591/Frances-World-Cup-team-arrives-back-home). This means that people will be fired in the name of France and their football team.

This situation shows how nations and their sports teams are one. France takes pride in their team and to be embarrassed, means someone will have to pay. These festivities are fantastic and fun, but when the president gets involved, there will be trouble.