Football And European Identity

Description: Shifting European identities, cultural loyalties and divisions are often expressed more directly through attitudes to 'the people's game' game than in any other arena. This book examines European football journalism from throughout the last century to present a unique cross-cultural analysis of changing European national and regional identities. Building on detailed research into original language sources from across Western Europe, from the early 20th century to the present day, "Football and European Identity" traces this fascinating evolution. The resulting cross-cultural analysis of national identity in Europe provides the basis for a unique study of the interplay between football, society, politics and the print media, in three parts: part 1 focusing on Old Europe national identity in the football writing of England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain; in part 2, nations within a state examines the status of Corsican, Catalonian and Basque identities; and, part 3, new (football) worlds explores the response of Europe's presses to the emergence of Africa, South East Asia and the USA as major forces in world football. Providing valuable insights into the complex and fluid nature of European identity and issues relating to Europeanization in a global context, this text should be read by all those with an interest in sport studies, media and communications studies, and Europe. Contents: 1. Introduction: Football, European Identities and the Press Part One: Old Europe 2. England: Theirs is Not to Reason Why 3. France: The Style Counsel 4. Germany: Past Performance Equals Future Value 5. Italy: High Drama, Fine Art, Classic Design 6. Spain: Land of Hope and Fury Part Two: Nations within the State 7. One Nation, One Team, One Image?: Catalunya and the Basque Country in Spain 8. Beauty or the Beast? The Corsican Question Part Three: New (Football) Worlds 9. The Colonial Shadow: Africans in the French Imagination 10. Only in America: Representations of the United States in Europe 11. Marshalling Art: Images of South-East Asian Football Bibliography Index Author Biography: University of Liverpool, UK Manchester Metropolitan University, UK