🏀📚Author Basketball Empire ⚽️📚#MakingOfLesBleus. Historian 🇫🇷 sports & sports diplomacy, director FranceAndUS 🎓Clinical Assistant Prof at NYU Tisch Institute for Global Sports. Fmr HistoryAtState. Views=my own https://linktr.ee/lkrasnoffhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mqxa54ju5s2h🫣🫣🫣18 Jul 2026 21:40 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqxa54ju5s2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mqmz5ptww22bOk, second half is a chance to reset. Allez Les Bleus14 Jul 2026 20:09 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmz5ptww22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mqmvfi6ibc2wOk mes amis, on y va!14 Jul 2026 19:01 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmvfi6ibc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mpx2gnyrqc2zThis game is batty bananas crazy with energy and I am here for it!06 Jul 2026 02:33 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpx2gnyrqc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mpnxrjzemk2cWell, that was a lot of fun! 🙌 Many thanks @britishcouncil.bsky.social for having me on #OurWorldConnectedPodcast to discuss World Cup with Christine Wilson. Listen then let me know: at this point in the tourney, who is winning the soft power game? https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/our-world-connected-podcast/the-beautiful-game02 Jul 2026 11:51 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpnxrjzemk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mplws5jazs27As DRC are presently playing England, thought its a good time to remind you of this great Sleeper Hit History" episode about the DRC's last FIFA World Cup trip in 1974 (they were still known as Zaire) https://youtu.be/aaYxVnUGDy0?si=vyGc6JZ8eJKC7mJT01 Jul 2026 16:28 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mplws5jazs27https://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mpjnzpwvd225This game is crazy mad fun to watch on Telemundo30 Jun 2026 18:46 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpjnzpwvd225https://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mp6qiujgp22jAhead of the France 🇫🇷 vs Norway 🇳🇴 match at “Boston Stadium” I’m thinking of the different ways the Bay State and its capital have fostered Franco-American #sportsdiplomacy over time. More via the FranceAndUS project https://www.franceussports.com/backgrounders/bostons-role-in-the-franceandus-sports-story26 Jun 2026 10:31 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp6qiujgp22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3moyuw6dkqk26Exciting news! To fête Les Bleus at FIFA World Cup, Bloomsbury is offering a sweet 35% discount on my first book, The Making of Les Bleus: Sport in France, 1958-2010, which examines the French football & youth systems. Use code GLR AT8 through June 30 https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/making-of-les-bleus-9798216246374/24 Jun 2026 02:34 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3moyuw6dkqk26https://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mouv44ee622gWhat if the most interesting thing about today’s France v Iraq World Cup match is not the on-pitch action? What if its the FFF's brand identity and its sports diplomacy partnership with Iraq to train-up the Lionesses of Mesopotamia? More from me here https://www.lindsaysarahkrasnoff.com/news/2026/4/2/joy-and-changing-the-narrative-the-surprising-example-of-sports-diplomacy-storytelling-within-fifa-2026s-group-of-death22 Jun 2026 12:27 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mouv44ee622ghttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mostetcn622iI love the description of TiTi’s flair and football IQ https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/21/thierry-henry-alexi-lalas-fox-world-cup21 Jun 2026 16:51 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mostetcn622ihttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mogiire5vk2yOk on y va! Who do you have? Regardless it should be a great match16 Jun 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mogiire5vk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mofnzb7gnk2a#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 Today Les Bleus launch their campaign. Since winning their 2nd star in 2018, a new generation has emerged, redefining how national team players are sports diplomats. How they translate this into on-pitch performance together is what I’m watching. Allez Les Bleus!16 Jun 2026 11:10 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mofnzb7gnk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mod5wsgpic2c#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 D-1️⃣ Another key legacy of hosting & winning 1998 was in women’s ⚽ Les Bleues star Laura Georges was part of the 1️⃣st girls’ cohort at Clairefontaine; she then helped France to a 4th place at FIFA 2011 and top 10 world rankings (more👇) https://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/story/_/id/24319560/france-2018-world-cup-title-help-build-momentum-2019-women-world-cup15 Jun 2026 11:17 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mod5wsgpic2chttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3moavf5mqmk2o#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 D-2️⃣ 🪄Magic of 1998 as Les Bleus won their first FIFA star on home soil, seeding key legacies for the game today: ✅Courage to be fearless ✅Belief in self ✅France that wins Read my 2018 @theathleticfc.bsky.social piece for more https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/425758/2018/07/09/frances-children-of-1998-are-united-by-belief-and-relatively-muted-hair-styles/14 Jun 2026 13:39 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3moavf5mqmk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnyzfogs2c2b#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 D-5️⃣ By 1980s, Les Bleus had results as youth development system took root & the Carré Magique dazzled. 4️⃣th place FIFA 1982➕Patrick Battiston knocked out by W.German goalkeeper Schumacher, a play that lives in infamy 🏆UEFA Euro 1984 🥇Olympics 1984 🥉FIFA 1986 (more)11 Jun 2026 10:29 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnyzfogs2c2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnwldmmntc2bWhen people ask me why Les Bleus chose Boston and Bentley University, here’s one part of the answer https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/10/sports/bentley-university-france-world-cup/?s_campaign=sharetool_Bluesky_view10 Jun 2026 11:12 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnwldmmntc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnwfjznf522n#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 D-6️⃣ **Redesigning French Youth Football** The FFF tried to solve the 1960s football crisis via a layered approach starting in the 1970s: 1⃣1973 INF for the best of the best (the federation's apex; see yesterday's post) 2⃣1973-76 Youth academies within pro clubs (more)10 Jun 2026 09:29 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnwfjznf522nhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnvisg2kkc22But mais ooouais! [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Jun 2026 00:54 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnvisg2kkc22https://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnu7uxl5wc2j#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 D-7️⃣ Out of the 1960s-70s French football crisis came new solutions: the National Football Institute, opened at Vichy November 1972 then moved to Clairefontaine June 1988. Since then, this mythical training ground has become synonymous w/producing top-tier footballers.09 Jun 2026 12:42 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnu7uxl5wc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mntaekg4qc2aHow it's going. Needless to say my writing is sloooow tonight #NBAFinals09 Jun 2026 03:18 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mntaekg4qc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnrm2l2df22h#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 D-8️⃣ Despite France’s 1960s youth & sports crisis, the women’s game revived in late 1960s at both the club & elite level. The FFF recognized Les Bleues in 1971, and their first officially recognized match was held that April. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/sports/womens-world-cup-france.html (more)08 Jun 2026 11:42 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnrm2l2df22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnpp22yvxc2zFor my Francophone hoops lovers: over on the other place, @le20h-francetele.bsky.social has a great clip on Wembanyama as France’s best sports diplomat to the United States, how he’s impacting the San Antonio community and opening people’s minds more to France, its basketball & culture.07 Jun 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnpp22yvxc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnp7imkuj22l#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 D-9️⃣ Rome 1960 Games were French sport's “zero hour,” the start of 1960s youth & sports crises. Football was in crisis too. Players’ strike May 1968 won concessions but Les Bleus didn’t qualify for World Cup 1962, 1970, 1974. books.openedition.org/pur/24342907 Jun 2026 12:52 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnp7imkuj22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnn2glpq3224#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 D-1️⃣0️⃣ The first major breakthrough for #LesBleus was  the 3rd place finish at FIFA 1958. Two noteworthy keys to know: 1️⃣Just Fontaine scored 13 goals, a record that still stands m.youtube.com/watch?v=6JNHDn… 👇more https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6JNHDn…06 Jun 2026 16:16 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnn2glpq3224https://bsky.app/profile/lempika7.bsky.social/post/3mnk3ewg7722a#TeamFrance World Cup 2026 D-1️⃣1️⃣ Les Bleus played inaugural World Cup 1930 then hosted in 1938, an era when Raoul Diagne debuted (1931); his father - the first black African deputy in the National Assembly - wasn’t happy (more) 👇 https://inside.fifa.com/news/diagne-blazes-a-trail-with-les-bleus-276537405 Jun 2026 11:55 +0000at://did:plc:3zbinnfgi464dgexveghyxt4/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnk3ewg7722a