• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
OneWorld Movement

OneWorld Movement

Towards a world without borders

  • Home
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact us
    • Immigration stories
    • Citizen journalism
    • Media inquiry
    • Partnership inquiry
    • Research proposal
    • Research notification
    • Government query
  • Donate

Vive la France! And a lot of other nations, too

July 16, 2018

Source: MSN. By Ronald Blum/ AP.

As France defeats Croatia 4-2 to lift the 2018 FIFA World Cup, we look back at some of the most memorable moments from the match.

MOSCOW — Antoine Griezmann’s father emigrated from Germany, and the France forward’s mother is of Portuguese descent.

Paul Pogba’s parents arrived from Guinea.

Kylian Mbappe’s dad is from Cameroon, his mom Algerian.

Immigrants, sons of immigrants and grandsons of immigrants bonded together with scions of families that have been French for generations, all for the rouge, blanc et bleu. And for only the second time, France is the World Cup champion.

About two-thirds of Les Bleus’ roster included players with immigrant backgrounds, a mini-United Nations of soccer talent.

“That is the France that we love,” Griezmann said through a translator after Sunday’s 4-2 victory over Croatia ended the most exciting World Cup final in decades. “It’s beautiful to see it.”

Griezmann’s free kick was headed in by Mario Manduzkic for the opening own-goal in the 18th minute, and then Griezmann converted a penalty kick for a 2-1 lead in the 38th after video review spotted a handball by Ivan Perisic.

Mbappe’s speed led to the third goal in the 59th . He added a goal of his own in the 65th , at 19 becoming the second-youngest scorer in a World Cup final behind 17-year-old Pele in 1958.

Vive la diversite!

A day after Bastille Day, the party was on.

“The diversity of the squad is in the image of this beautiful country that is France,” midfielder Blaise Matuidi, whose parents are from Angola and Congo, said through a translator ahead of the match.

France won on a humid night in Russia, with thunderclaps during play and a downpour during the trophy presentation. Quite different from that indelible summer evening at Stade de France in 1998, when fans in the arena and throughout Paris sang “La Marseillaise” until dawn and young teenagers drove cars while their intoxicated parents sat in passenger seats.

People called that team “Black, Blanc, Beur,” noting how black, white and North African players came together.

This year’s team was perhaps even more diverse.

An aerial view of the stage on the field of Luzhniki Stadium after the presentation of the FIFA World Cup Trophy to the France national football team. The team celebrates on the pitch under a shower of confetti and rainy weather after winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final by four goals to two against the Croatia national football team.

Defender Samuel Umtiti was born in Cameroon and backup goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in Zaire. Others descended from Algeria, Mali, Mauritania, Mococco and Senegal, plus Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

“There may be players who come from different origins, but we do have the same state of mind,” Griezmann said. “We all play for the same jersey, the cockerel. For our country, we give everything we have. As soon as you wear the jersey, we do everything for each other.”

He scored the go-ahead goal after the first video review-created penalty kick in a World Cup final. During a delay of about four minutes that might have unnerved less-composed players, Griezmann told himself to pretend it was a league match.

“Carry on and do the same thing as I normally do,” he remembered thinking.

At 27, he is in his prime but in the penumbra of Spanish soccer powers at Atletico Madrid, toiling in a league that Barcelona and Real Madrid dominate. He led the 2016 European Championship with six goals and tied for second with four at the World Cup, three on penalty kicks, earning the Bronze Ball as third-best player behind Croatia midfielder Luka Modric and Belgium forward Eden Hazard.

Griezmann kissed the trophy, knowing his generation will be revered in the same way Zidane, Petit, Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram and Fabien Barthez remain renowned from Calais to Cannes.

“From tonight on, I’m sorry for them, but they are going to be different,” coach Didier Deschamps said. “Those 23 players will be linked forever, forever. Whatever happens — they might follow different paths, but they will be marked forever and they will be together thanks to this event.”

Griezmann, man of the match in a World Cup final, will be on posters throughout the republic, asked for endorsements, a mainstay of commercials. He will be pestered for autographs for the rest of his life.

“I’m going to be in the history of French football with my team,” Griezmann said. “We don’t quite realize it yet. Our children will very proud to have our names.”

Picture of the 2018 World Cup Final between France and Croatia. This picture was taken minutes before the commencement of the national anthems. Source: MX
As France defeats Croatia 4-2 to lift the 2018 FIFA World Cup, we look back at some of the most memorable moments from the match. Source: Russian Presidential Press and Information Office
French footballer Kylian Mbappé holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy after the tournament’s final match on 15 July 2018. Source: Антон Зайцев
French footballer Ousmane Dembélé holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy after the tournament’s final match on 15 July 2018. Source: Антон Зайцев
French footballer Adil Rami holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy after the tournament’s final match on 15 July 2018. Source: Антон Зайцев
French footballer Djibril Sidibé holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy after the tournament’s final match on 15 July 2018. Source: Антон Зайцев
French footballer Blaise Matuidi and his children posing with the FIFA World Cup Trophy after the tournament’s final match on 15 July 2018. Source: Антон Зайцев
French footballer Benjamin Mendy holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy alongside teammates Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé after the tournament’s final match on 15 July 2018. Source: Антон Зайцев
French footballer Paul Pogba and family holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy after the tournament’s final match on 15 July 2018. Source: Антон Зайцев
Team France before the tournament’s final match on 15 July 2018. Source: Russian Presidential Press and Information Office
French footballer Samuel Umtiti holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy after the tournament’s final match on 15 July 2018. Source: Антон Зайцев
An aerial view of the stage on the field of Luzhniki Stadium after the presentation of the FIFA World Cup Trophy to the France national football team. The team celebrates on the pitch under a shower of confetti and rainy weather after winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final by four goals to two against the Croatia national football team. Source: Russian Presidential Press and Information Office
Sight of people watching the World Cup final football match France-Croatia, at a bar Place Saint-Léger in Chambéry, Savoie, France. Source: Florian Pépellin

Filed Under: News

We need your help

OneWorld Movement is a non-profit organization powered by your grants and donations. Currently we are raising funds towards our annual online presence maintenance costs. The target for this campaign is $5,000. Remember, every Dollar helps.

Donate

Footer

Copyright © 2022 — OneWorld Movement • All rights reserved. • Privacy Policy • Terms of Use

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By using this website you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT