Pete Davies, who wrote All Played Out about Italia '90 and paved the way for Nick Hornby, mentions his novel Dollarville in it. A new government take over an African country, and their first act is to speak to the three most important international organisations; the UN, The World Bank and FIFA.
"Sporting victory is ephemeral and doesn’t have much impact on people’s lives."
Some commentators have speculated that the 1970 UK General Election might have gone the other way, had England not been knocked out of the World Cup by West Germany four days earlier.
That shift actually might have had interesting long-term consequences. Presumably a third Wilson administration would have been even less eager to challenge the unions than was Heath's, so the Tories would probably have come in with a majority in 1974 or 1975, but it would have been a "wet" Tory administration that would probably have encountered many of the same problems as did Callaghan's government, and thus would likely have been out of office again in 1979 or 1980. But an incoming Labour government in 1980 would have benefited during the years that followed from the windfall of North Sea Oil, and would therefore have been in a position to govern effectively, and to spend without taxing too heavily. The 1980s might have been a decade of British social democracy.
Therefore, if England had beaten West Germany in June 1970, the Thatcherite revolution might have been postponed or cancelled. Maybe...
"As soon as the 1998 World Cup ended, and Des Lynam had finished his reading of ‘If’, there was a stream of commentary about how France’s multi-racial team would change the country and heal its divisions; four years later Jean-Marie Le Pen came second in the presidential election. Since then, France has grown ever more pessimistic and divided, with many believing it to be heading for civil war; meanwhile, its football team have got better and better, and now look terrifying."
Technically, there already has been a period of history when France had a multi-racial civil war. It was called World War Two!
After the Fall of France in 1940, the regions of Equatorial Africa, French India, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia were the ones to side with De Gaulle's "Free French" forces while the rest of the Empire, including the Metropole remained with Vichy. And the next four years involved the gradual conflict over territory (especially remote islands) between Vichy and Free French forces.
One such figure who participated was Franz Fanon! He was in Martinique when it was taken back by the Free French troops upon which he joined their army! From there, he was sent to French North Africa and later took part in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France by US and Free French forces.
One way in which the game reflects a country is in the attitude of the players towards the officials and the rules. This seems to be a constant over time. For France , it is hard to imagine a non-arab comitting Zidane's act of madness.
Sorry I thought you meant this time. England not qualifying in 1994 muted the coverage at home, but I wasn’t aware of anything like the same numbers of visitors there has been this time - despite the villainous pricing. That’s undoubtedly here to stay.
I think the World Cup has been pretty good for America's image, despite the Belgium thing. Even the most hardline euroshitlib is usually charmed by the people.
"A country can be deeply fractured and ailing and still get behind its national team; citizens across the Soviet Union cheered enthusiastically for their side, a great unifying force who won the first European Championships, but at the end of the day, they still lived in the Soviet Union."
The dissolution of the USSR was far more contingent than many realize. As recently as Spring, 1991, there was an actual referendum on keeping the union together in a reformed fashion. Literally, everyone outside of the Baltic and Caucasian states said "yes" to a large degree!
Outside the Baltic States who were independent states under illegal occupation and possibly the Caucasus the collapse of the Soviet Union was a bad thing that made people poorer, more conflict prone and gave them less freedom.
Pete Davies, who wrote All Played Out about Italia '90 and paved the way for Nick Hornby, mentions his novel Dollarville in it. A new government take over an African country, and their first act is to speak to the three most important international organisations; the UN, The World Bank and FIFA.
"Sporting victory is ephemeral and doesn’t have much impact on people’s lives."
Some commentators have speculated that the 1970 UK General Election might have gone the other way, had England not been knocked out of the World Cup by West Germany four days earlier.
That shift actually might have had interesting long-term consequences. Presumably a third Wilson administration would have been even less eager to challenge the unions than was Heath's, so the Tories would probably have come in with a majority in 1974 or 1975, but it would have been a "wet" Tory administration that would probably have encountered many of the same problems as did Callaghan's government, and thus would likely have been out of office again in 1979 or 1980. But an incoming Labour government in 1980 would have benefited during the years that followed from the windfall of North Sea Oil, and would therefore have been in a position to govern effectively, and to spend without taxing too heavily. The 1980s might have been a decade of British social democracy.
Therefore, if England had beaten West Germany in June 1970, the Thatcherite revolution might have been postponed or cancelled. Maybe...
that’s why the CIA poisoned Gordon Banks. It was all part of the plan
I wonder if they fitted Bobby Moore up for the bracelet theft too.
almost certainly
Even before the 2002 elections, this was the night when the dream of football forging a truly multicultural France died.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/oct/08/newsstory.sport16
Yes, i seem to remember it's in Hussey's book.
Your piece reminded me of 2 things:-
- Being inspired by the 40-year old star of the Cameroon team (I was the same age) - I'm pretty sure his first name was Roger.
- A twin towns exchange with some French people who refused to admit the French National Team represented France. Zinedine Zidane - "c'est un Arabe".
Considering your abysmal PM situation I believe Trump shines in comparison. At least he loves his country.
"As soon as the 1998 World Cup ended, and Des Lynam had finished his reading of ‘If’, there was a stream of commentary about how France’s multi-racial team would change the country and heal its divisions; four years later Jean-Marie Le Pen came second in the presidential election. Since then, France has grown ever more pessimistic and divided, with many believing it to be heading for civil war; meanwhile, its football team have got better and better, and now look terrifying."
Technically, there already has been a period of history when France had a multi-racial civil war. It was called World War Two!
After the Fall of France in 1940, the regions of Equatorial Africa, French India, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia were the ones to side with De Gaulle's "Free French" forces while the rest of the Empire, including the Metropole remained with Vichy. And the next four years involved the gradual conflict over territory (especially remote islands) between Vichy and Free French forces.
One such figure who participated was Franz Fanon! He was in Martinique when it was taken back by the Free French troops upon which he joined their army! From there, he was sent to French North Africa and later took part in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France by US and Free French forces.
One way in which the game reflects a country is in the attitude of the players towards the officials and the rules. This seems to be a constant over time. For France , it is hard to imagine a non-arab comitting Zidane's act of madness.
First time hosts? You mean Canada.
Well in my lifetime the US, Japan, Korea, South Africa, and a couple of more controversial choices.
Sorry I thought you meant this time. England not qualifying in 1994 muted the coverage at home, but I wasn’t aware of anything like the same numbers of visitors there has been this time - despite the villainous pricing. That’s undoubtedly here to stay.
I think the World Cup has been pretty good for America's image, despite the Belgium thing. Even the most hardline euroshitlib is usually charmed by the people.
"A country can be deeply fractured and ailing and still get behind its national team; citizens across the Soviet Union cheered enthusiastically for their side, a great unifying force who won the first European Championships, but at the end of the day, they still lived in the Soviet Union."
The dissolution of the USSR was far more contingent than many realize. As recently as Spring, 1991, there was an actual referendum on keeping the union together in a reformed fashion. Literally, everyone outside of the Baltic and Caucasian states said "yes" to a large degree!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Soviet_Union_referendum
Unfortunately, some hard-line officers thought it would be a good idea to launch a couple the day before the New Union Treaty was signed!
And the rest is history.
Outside the Baltic States who were independent states under illegal occupation and possibly the Caucasus the collapse of the Soviet Union was a bad thing that made people poorer, more conflict prone and gave them less freedom.