Originally Published in Madras Courier
Editorial Note
Europe’s national teams reveal how centuries of migration, identity, and belonging have reshaped modern football.
On July 4, 2026, hours before France met Paraguay in the round of 16 in Philadelphia, José Luis Chilavert, Paraguay’s former goalkeeper, who faced Les Bleus in 1998, posted a message on X to former French striker Christophe Dugarry. “Christophe, you’re right. In 1998 we faced the French, and now Paraguay will face a squad from Africa,” he said, alluding to its extraordinary Black representation.