Players throw France head coach Didier Deschamps into the air, celebrating at the end of the final match of the 2018 soccer World Cup. / AP
And a lot of other nations, too
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.
“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.
People called that team “Black, Blanc, Beur,” noting how black, white and North African players came together.
Zinedine Zidane, a son of Algerians, headed in a pair of first-half corner kicks against heavily favored Brazil. Patrick Vieira, born in Senegal, fed Normandy-born Emmanuel Petit for the third in the 3-0 win.
This year’s team was perhaps even more diverse.
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.” /=
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