h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I lay in my reclining chair to watch the French soccer match in South Africa and thank goodness I was lying down or I would have fallen over.

It could not be true. These "nailed to the soil" players could NOT be the French soccer team?

But they were, and they remained glued to the ground. And Mexico won.

I can only think of one thing; where they played is called the highveld I seem to remember that the altitude is about 6,000 feet above ses level.

I know that when I was a competitive swimmer, we ,in the Transvaal had the edge on the other provinces because,as we did all our training at high altitude, our circulatory systems were used to it and so we easily, not only swam faster, but also beat the swimmers from the other provinces who trained a lower altitudes.

Could that be a reason for the quite tragic performance which the French soccer team demonstrated last night?

Being French it grieves me to have seen the sad display.

Could the high altitude have been the reason for the French soccer team's lethargic performance?

Thank goodness the French Rugby team are more successful !!

Christiane
AlsoRan80
Friday,18/VI/2010 7.30

Hello Christiane

I watched the match, too. France lost the match as the Mexicans played astonishingly well. Their technical skills and teamwork were superior in every respect.

You have to lay a lot of the blame for the French performance with the manager, though. He could see that his team were struggling and he should have made substitutions and tried some different tactics. It may not have been enough to stop the Mexicans winning, though - they were brilliant last night.

Hi Icy North,

I quite agree with you and thank you for that explication. The Mexicans did play a fantastic game - they made the French look like lame ducks.

Was the Manager of the French team the chap in the long overcoat the film crew kept "panning" onto?. I think I heard that he was leaving, and there was quite a chat during the match about his tactics. I am not enough au fait with soccer to really understand what the commentators were saaying.

But actually my point about the altitude is a fair one and the swimming teams of all the provinces knew that the Transvaal team benefitted because we were used to training at that alitutde and actually we broke records when we swam at a lower level or sea level. The sea side provinces were where we broke records, both the provincial ones and in some instances whem Joan Harrison came along the world records. .

It will be interesting to see whether England does better tonight when she is playing against Tunisia which is also a country with both mountains and the sea. !!

Thanks for your very good comments. Nice to chat to you. How are you faring?

Christiane
AR80
Friday 18th June, 2010 8.31 BST

Yes, the French Manager Raymond Domenech was the lonely figure with grey hair and a dark coat. He had already said he would resign at the end of this tournament, so he's a lame duck manager, which isn't good for team morale.

The high altitude may have been significant, as you say - the French did look unusually lethargic.

(I'm fine, thanks for asking. I'm still looking for a job, though )

The World Cup is indeed both thrilling and exasperating, depending upon whom you are supporting

I am enjoying the games far more where there is no emotional investment, when England play tonight I will be a nervous wreck but so far I have enjoyed the other matches, particularly it was great watching Mexico teach the French a lesson last night

GB, you naughty girl!!

Are you teasing me ?

I was mortified with the beating that the French team received last night at the hand(feet!!) of the Mexicans.

There is no need to rub it in......! .....heaves a huge sigh of relief as she lands back in her wheelchair. !!

I shall however be cheering for l'Angleterre this evening....

Christiane
AR80
Friday 18th June 2010 15.07 BST

I didn't see the matches, nor do I understand soccer, but I think the point about altitude is a valid one. There are other French sports in which competing at high altitudes is mandatory--Tour de France, for instance. Those cyclists race up and down the sides of mountains.

There's a section of France called "Le Massif Central." France also has Alps and Pyrenees. So, French athletes *could* train at high altitudes without leaving France.

Hi Icy North,

Sorry about the problem with finding a post commesurate with your qualifications - i. e wonderful with all things computerized and technical. !! Apart from a lot of things which we know nothing about...!

Well I am afraid that he should have given some thought to the fact that the high altitude did play a role.

My sudden insight as to why they were possibly beaten so disastrously was the problem athletes have with adapting to running/swimming/competing at a high
altitude, and I wondered

a. The date of the arrival of the French team in South Africa.?

b. Do people realise the extraordinary influence that altitude has on one's physical performance.? If not they had better find out very quickly.

c. I am willing to bet that the team that becomes the World soccer Champions will be the team that either has experience of playing at high altitude, or arrived earlier in South Africa in order to get acclimatised.

If I was a betting person I would probably put £1.00 on that !

Go well,

Christiane
AlsoRan80
Friday 18th June 2010 13.24 GST

Hi paulh,

You are absolutely correct about the mountainous areas of France and you very correctly note them.

However I would think that the sport in the mountains would not really be soccer but probably the mountain sports you mention plus the winter sports. such as skiing etc. etc = Which I also love to watch and which I have never ever experienced.

A great sadness that I shall leave my life unfulfilled, never having had the thrill of skiing down a wonderful slope near Mont Blanc....!

I suppose I could be strapped on skiis on my wheelchair - now there is a thought. Perish it rapidement!!! how ghastly...!!

Nice to say Hi.
Go well,

Christiane
AR80
Friday, 18th June, 2010 13.39 BST

My skiing was very poor. I shall not miss it at all when I get too old to do it.

At least you have tried and done it!!

Off to watch England and Tunisia with a very sore neck.

Christiane
AR80
Friday 18th June 2010 20/16 BST

I'[ve always suspected that England had a sore neck, but Tunisia too?