frbleus1-4, Exercise 2: A profile of Raymond Kopa

Model answer (check the details):

Documented facts: born Raymond Kopaszewski in 1931 in Nœux-les-Mines in northern France to a Polish immigrant family; worked in the mines as a young man; played for Angers and then Reims; moved to Real Madrid in 1956 and won three European Cups with them; returned to Reims in 1959; played for France and was the first Frenchman to win the Ballon d'Or, in 1958 (check each).

Stories to treat with care: that he was destined for football from childhood, that his mining accident (the loss of part of a finger) shaped his style, and exact quotes from interviews many years later. These are common in retellings but need a source.

Where to look: contemporary reports in L'Équipe and France Football, the club's records, his own memoirs (written with a journalist, so check how much is his own voice), and a biography.

Conclusion: a good profile states the verifiable dates and results first, then separates "he said" from "it is said".

Care: the same method applies to Fontaine and Mekhloufi, with the added need to check political claims about Mekhloufi against several sources.