30 May 2024

Top of the football world: The history of the beautiful game in France

From Nights, 9:35 pm on 30 May 2024

In France, football is a way of life - and it just so happens they're very, very good at it.

This includes two FIFA World Cup winning teams and legends like Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe.

Domestically, Paris St Germain dominate a much-maligned league yet there's more to French football than the Middle Eastern money the modern game has been flooded with.   

Tom Williams is the author of a new book Va-Va Voom: The Modern History of French Football.

He speaks to Nights about what makes French football so successful.

Kylian MBAPPE of France reacts after scoring by PK (penalty kick) in the second half of additional time during FIFA World Cup final match Argentina vs France at Lusail Stadium in Al Daayen, Qatar on December 18, 2022.

Kylian MBAPPE of France reacts after scoring by PK (penalty kick) in the second half of additional time during FIFA World Cup final match Argentina vs France at Lusail Stadium in Al Daayen, Qatar. Photo: KEN SATOMI