Illuminates the connections between soccer empire and sport by tracing the story of World Cup soccer, from the Cup's French origins in the 1930s to Africa and the Caribbean and back again. This title recounts the lives of two of soccer's most electrifying players, Zidane and his outspoken teammate, Lilian Thuram.

Contents List of Illustrations Preface: Scoring Spirits Introduction: The Language of Happiness 1. A Beautiful Harvest 2. Caribbean France 3. Crossings 4. Roots 5. Two Goals 6. Two Flags 7. La France Metissee 8. An Unfinished War 9. Reconciliation 10. Burn 11. Coup de Boule Epilogue: Returns Notes Acknowledgments Index

"Laurent Dubois mines the history of French soccer for fascinating theories and riveting stories. His understanding of the relationship between the game and politics is subtle, leading readers deep into important discussions about race and national identity. For those of us who admired the poetics of Les Bleus this is essential reading."—Franklin Foer, author of How Soccer Explains the World"Laurent Dubois is historian, fan and graceful writer all in one. In soccer, he has found an innovative way to explore France and its empire. A serious book and an excellent read."—Simon Kuper, author of Soccernomics"Beautifully lyrical and authoritative. We meet a host of players, colonized and colonizer, following them from their original playing fields—a vast lawn, a concrete lot—to their triumphs in national and international play." —Alice Kaplan, author of The Interpreter"This book is a brilliant, beautifully written, and unique history of French colonialism and post-coloniality through the lens of football/soccer. Dubois weaves an eminently readable and engaging narrative that tracks tensions around race and national identity through the biographies of key football players and officials who became iconic of the aspirations of peripheral subjects of the French empire. More than a simple history of French football, the book amounts to a description of France's imperial project and an incisive reflection on the race question in contemporary France. It will please both fans of the 'beautiful game' and those inclined to dismiss sports as but the opium of the masses."—Paul Silverstein, author of Algeria in France: Transpolitics, Race and Nation

"An intriguing tale of soccer within the matrix of France's history of colonialism." STARRED REVIEW Library Journal "Drills down to uncover the relationship among politics, race and the legacy of empire." The New York Times "Excellent" Chronicle Of Higher Education "Tale of how even the most seemingly apolitical institutions in a society can become the battlegrounds for its most pressing questions of identity and ambition." Salon.com "The best, most important contribution to soccer scholarship to date...A timely and wonderful book." -- A.-P. Durand Choice "Soccer Empire has a heart that beats louder than most, and is all the better for it." Times Literary Supplement (TLS)