In -> Out: How Sweet It Is

Four Years Later, Same Result

Trying out a new theme series of blog updates here, hence the title. Let me know if you get it, and/or if you like it

Sometimes, things work out just the way you wanted.

Other times, however, life's nice enough to give you a little extra, too.

Today, South Africa and France were both eliminated from competition after South Africa defeated captain-less France 2-1. South Africa, therefore, becomes the first host country to fail making it out of the group stage (Songs > Vuvuzelas when it comes to home pitch advantage? Don't worry, I won't go down that road...yet). But despite the loss and record setting elimination, the South Africa Coach still beamed with pride while speaking of his players and how they represented their country.

Uh oh, France. The title of the blog + process of elimination with regard to who I can talk about in this post = ...

So what about the French National Team? Was their coach beaming with pride about their performance?

You can't always fully describe a question's answer with words.

For those out of the loop, below is a quick timeline of the events surrounding the French National Team:

June 11th Despite having a man up advantage for the final 10 minutes, France settles for a 0-0 draw with Uruguay. The French Coach calls it a "beautiful loss."

June 17th France is defeated soundly 2-0 by Mexico. The French Coach expresses his disappointment and lack of an explanation after the game, and states that France still has an "infinitesimally small chance" of escaping the group round.

Oh yeah, also at halftime of the Mexico game on June 17th, French striker Nicolas Anelka cursed out the French Coach and was later sent home by the French Football Federation for actions "unacceptable to the FFF" (aka not scoring goals, and maybe the cursing...maybe... ).

June 18th The French squad refuses to practice in protest of Nicolas Anelka's expulsion.

June 22nd Well, I already pointed out above what happened to the French Team today.

P.S. Who do I have to write to in order to make sure Survivor-esque flame ceremonies happen every time a team is eliminated next World Cup?

So why then would I... oh wait. You're right. I'm missing two important pieces of this time line:

November 18th In the final game of a 2 game playoff between Ireland and France to determine a World Cup birth, France scores in extra time on a play in which they committed two hand balls and had two players offside. The fouls go uncalled, and Ireland is eliminated from the 2010 World Cup.

Ah, sweet, sweet karma. Not that I'm saying the French Team wished against Ireland's National Team making the tournament, but could this be the universe righting itself for France's undeserved birth to the World Cup?

And finally:

June 21st French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot calls an emergency team meeting the night before the final, must-win game. She reportedly left the team members alone with their tears after saying, "It's your kids, our children, for whom perhaps you will no longer be heroes. It is the dreams of your partners, your friends, your fans that you have perhaps broken. You have tarnished the image of France, and Napoleon would be pissed."

Ok, maybe I stretched the quote a little at the end...

Not even a psychologically manipulative an impassioned speech from the sports minister could stir this seemingly doomed-to-fail team! Worst of all, the speech was accurate, too. It's well known how intense soccer futbol fans are around the world, and French nationals are no exception. Lest we forget how they treated someone who simply suggested a delicious baked good as a substitute for bread to the apparently quite serious "revolutionaries."

But ultimately, it's not a ton of worries for the French National team. There was something about this team that just didn't feel legitimate right from the start. I'm sure your countrymen will welcome you back warmly with open arms.

But promise me this: when you're sitting around the table with your two buddies eating your sympathy you-know-what (with both your two hands, of course), you'll sarcastically muse, "How sweet it is..."