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When did the French get so good at football? Perennial losers back in the 1980s, the defending World Cup champions are now in their second consecutive final, their fourth since 1998. Back then, a nation feted a win on home soil and a golden “black, blanc, beur” generation. On Wednesday night, France celebrated another black, white and Arab generation. The communion even included opposing fans, proud of a Morocco that’s the first African and first Arab side to reach the final four at a World Cup.
What does sporting success say about a nation and its character? Do performances on the pitch really wash away the controversy of a tournament awarded to Qatar under a cloud of suspicion? How will this World Cup be remembered?
More broadly, why do sports results matter so much to so many? When the legendary Lionel Messi lines up against his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé, he represents the pride of an Argentina that’s otherwise in deep economic and political turmoil. How badly do they need a win?
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Juliette Laurain and Guillaume Gougeon.
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