French Soccer and the Future of Europe

July 7, 2006
By: Dave Zirin and John Cox

The story of the 2006 World Cup has been the resurrection of France. After a lackluster performance in its first two games, the French team shocked the football watching world -- otherwise known as "the world" -- by upsetting Spain and then dethroning Brazil, the second time in three World Cups the French have knocked off the global kings of "the beautiful game."

The story of the 2006 World Cup has been the resurrection of France. After a lackluster performance in its first two games, the French team shocked the football watching world -- otherwise known as "the world" -- by upsetting Spain and then dethroning Brazil, the second time in three World Cups the French have knocked off the global kings of "the beautiful game."

While hundreds of thousands of people celebrated on the Champs-Elys