In this edition, we cover our friends across the Atlantic, France.

There’s no denying it. Of all the major soccer powers throughout the world that have helped shape the American game, France ranks a ways down on the list. But that doesn’t mean that the French haven’t contributed to the game in USA.

Though their contributions are outweighed by those of Mexico, England, and number of other nations, France has played a vital role in the development of the game on this side of the Atlantic. Be it through players who found a home in the USA, Americans who spent time in France, or memorable moments that link the two countries, France has had a hand in the development of soccer in this country.

Players

David Regis is the most obvious name that connects the USA and France.
Just prior to the 1998 World Cup, the French-born defender, who was married to an American, switched nationalities and earned a spot on Steve Sampson’s World Cup team. It was a disappointing showing for the Americans, but Regis was one of the few bright spots, holding down his defensive responsibilities well despite the USA’s inept display while losing all three matches during the group stage.

Since Regis’ switch to the USA the countries have had a few players cross the ocean to play in the others’ domestic league.

Youri Djorkaeff, a World Cup and Euro winner with France, was not only a big name signing for the New York Red Bulls, but actually played well in his short time in Major League Soccer.

Current Philadelphia Union player Sebastien Le Toux, who many have pegged as a future MLS star, is the latest example of a French import who has found a home in the USA.

While the French impact on Major League Soccer has been relatively small, Ligue 1 has housed a number of the biggest names in American soccer in recent years.
Oguchi Onyewu had a short stint with Metz in his early days in Europe, making only three appearances for the first team, while Freddy Adu also had a relatively quiet stint with AS Monaco.

Defender Carlos Bocanegra found a regular spot on the pitch for Rennes after transferring from Fulham, and up-and-comer Charlie Davies was carving out a nice place in the league with Sochaux before his devastating car wreck.

The Coaches

Pierre Barrieu is the only notable mention here, but the current US National Team fitness coach has certainly had an impact on soccer in this country.

Barrieu, who also spent time with the Red Bulls, has been primarily responsible for the fitness of the US National team since 2002, a time span that includes many of the best results in the country’s history, including the 2002 World Cup, two Gold Cup titles, and the 2009 Confederations Cup.

The USA is noted for having an extremely fit team, and it is indeed that fitness and work ethic that has allowed the USA to consistently compete with teams that are a step ahead in the technical department, but Barrieu’s impact has filtered down far below the top team. He also works as an instructor for the US Soccer Federation where he teaches aspiring coaches and has written the curriculum for the National Coaching License for Soccer Fitness in the United States.

Though it is an institution of coaching, and not an individual, the French development academy at Clairefontaine has also had an impact on USA soccer.

Clairefontaine has been a model for the USA's own youth residency program at Bradenton, which has produced many of America's best soccer players, including Landon Donovan and Oguchi Onyewu. Clairefontaine also produced a player, goalkeeper Quentin Westburg, who through his father's American heritage became the starting goalkeeper for the USA in the under-20 World Cup in 2005.

Memorable Matches

There are only a pair of games played between France and the USA, both friendlies played in 1979. The first match was played in Paris in the springtime - specifically May. Due to the intransigence of the NASL, the top league in the USA at the time, the USMNT could not call in all their players early to prepare for the match.

Five players arrived the day of the match and the squad did not have a single practice together. The Americans lost 6-0, to a French squad that featured a young Michel Platini and Raymond Domenech. In October of the same year, the USA team met France again, and fared somewhat better, losing only by three goals.

Today

While the French league has opened up as a viable option for American players in the future with the good showing of Bocanegra and Davies, Major League Soccer is also rumored to be on the verge of an influx of French stars.

With Theirry Henry having been rumored to be on his way to New York after his time in Spain is over for quite some time and former Arsenal and France star Robert Pires also apparently close to making a move to the USA to join up with MLS, it looks as though France’s impact on the USA’s domestic scene could skyrocket in the coming months or years.

For now, the two countries continue to be only loosely tied to each other. However, as this summer’s World Cup draws near it is likely that both countries will be paying close attention to one another. France has the task of taking on the USA’s biggest rival, Mexico, in a match that will certainly draw the attention of millions of viewers across the country, while the USA is drawn against England, a showdown that will capture plenty of attention in France.