Africa: World Cup 2026 - are Les Bleus a true reflection of French society?

[The Conversation Africa] At every Football World Cup and any other major football tournament, it is not only Les Bleus performances on the pitch that come under scrutiny, but also the players' identities, their migrant backgrounds and the extent to which they represent France and French society. This recurrent question speaks to unresolved issues and questions about France's collective national identity, long-standing debates about immigration, and how France views itself. Above and beyond the team's line-up, the unresolved