Faces of Football: France - a letter to the national team

Dear French national team,

My name is Kin. My parents are from Hong Kong and China, so we don't have any real special familial links with football. When I was a kid, the sport at home was table tennis. Always table tennis. So I started playing football in the playground during breaks when me and my pals used to try and replicate the skill moves we saw in the manga series Captain Tsubasa. 

Now I love football, and it’s my passion along with travelling and photography, so when I get a n have all three which is ideal.

There've been plenty of great moments down the years travelling to watch you guys, and some not so great ones too. 

One of my earliest memories of Les Bleus was Zinedine Zidane’s stunning performance in the game against Norway way back in February 1998 on the television. The game finished 3-3, but the scoreline didn’t matter, all that mattered was the privilege of watching Zizou play. 

I was 11 years old back then, and I remember seeing the team and coaches passing by in front of my parents’ supermarket after that special win over Brazil in that same year. 

I’d always dreamed of watching the team play at a stadium, and this dream finally came true 10 years later when I went to watch a friendly against Uruguay. It was one of Hugo Lloris’ first games. 

Since then I’ve done everything I can to be in stadiums watching you guys as much as I can. I drove 5000km to watch you guys, driving all over Europe to watch you play in Euro 2020. I’ve even lost a job in the past in order to go on holiday in order to follow you guys to Russia. Luckily it was all worth it as we lifted the trophy!

Sadly, I won’t be able to go to Qatar this winter. I won’t be able to make life-lasting memories with my best friends. I won’t be belting out La Marseillaise pre-game in the stadium. Instead I’ll be doing it at home, hoping that you bring the trophy back to France for a third time. 

Best wishes, 

Kin