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Ahead Of The GameAuthor: The Globe and Mail
Soccer extends far beyond the pitch. Throughout the 2026 mens World Cup, Pitch and Power: How Soccer Shapes Everything, a new podcast from The Globe and Mail, looks at eight moments that changed soccer and rattled the wider world. Not just tactics and trophies, but politics, culture, and the moral climate of their day. Host Eoin OCallaghan talks to pundits, writers, players, eyewitnesses and fans about the genius, joy, and heartache of the beautiful game. Language: en Genres: News, Soccer, Sports, Sports News Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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The French revolution: Les Bleus and the battle over French identity
Episode 4
Thursday, 18 June, 2026
In the summer of 1998, the French national team became a symbol of a diverse, confident nation—only for that dream to curdle twelve years later with the public shame of the Knysna mutiny in South Africa. Few teams have carried more complicated meaning: triumph sparked celebrations of a more expansive French identity, while failure unleashed arguments about loyalty, national character, and who gets to be called ‘French.’ On this episode of Pitch and Power, we explore why this team became a lightning rod for social debates in France, how far‑right voices and mainstream media shaped the story, and what the journey from 1998 to the Knysna mutiny reveals about race, belonging, and power. We hear from reporters who were there, examine the narratives that turned heroes into scapegoats, and unpack how a squad once hailed as the Republic’s emblem of progression came to be portrayed as a national embarrassment. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
