France. World Champions. Perfectionists. Arrogance. Zidane. Glamorous. Eiffel Tower. These are the initial thoughts that comes to my mind when I think about France in general, but the question of this article is what are the secrets of France’s golden period?

France are the current World Champions after a fantastic summer in Russia 2018 which included a squad with a fantastic blend of the youthful Mbappe’s, Ousmane Dembele’s and the experienced Mandanda’s and Rami’s. After taking a look at the Championship winning squad 8 were born in the capital city Paris. Paris like most capital cities that continuously produce World Class footballers has a very high rate of poverty, this leads to another question, why does poverty seem or appear to be a common theme with most of the World stars we love to watch?

Typically second-generation immigrants predominantly North and West Africans were not encouraged to chase an academic career, and to make up for their dullness in the classroom and tedious life at home, young adolescents would spend every last minute playing football in underpasses, abandoned, basketball courts or velodromes, perfecting skill before even beginning to play on grass. The concrete jungle of the suburbs became an endless football pitch for the education deprived French youth, looking for an escape from day to day life, and several of them blossomed into some of the best players in the World. Due to the lack of education in the poverty driven areas of France the emphasis of “street soccer”, where kids would play in the streets or the parks on their own, it is here they argue where they develop their skills, hone their moves and become better players. It is no surprise they will; more contact time on the ball, the ability to be more expressive and importantly, no parents or coaches telling them what to do and when to do it. In their own environment they develop their own game and make their own rules. This not only develops football skills but social skills too; confidence, leadership, expression, friendship and importantly competitiveness. 

Clairefontaine is the centre of excellence that is supervised by France Football Federation, only the best players from 13-15 train at the academy. What sets the Clairefontaine academy apart is the standard of coaching and structure of the philosophy, the methodical approach in which the academy goes about their philosophy is also fundamental. All age groups train in the 4-3-3 formation as the FFF believes is most flexible and creates the most space. There is a huge emphasis on small sided games to sharpen up technique as you will receive more contact with the ball and as the pitch is smaller it will help with decision making and thinking ahead of play and in tight spaces and general creative play. Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud and Blaise Matuidi all graduated from the famous academy.

In a country that continues to have a strained relationship with immigrants from its former colonies, it was remarkable to see players who originate from a wide range of countries have their faces projected on the façade of the Arc de Triomphe, with hundreds of thousands of fans chanting their names in the streets of Paris. The team came to embody a national idea: “Black, Blanc, Beur,” or black, white, Arab, a slogan meant to celebrate an integrated France.