Black-Blanc-Beur: Game over

By Joshua Massarenti

The nostalgic among us are still be celebrating France 98. The French nation was in a state grace after the legendary ‘Black-Blanc-Beur’ team’s triumphant performance at the World Cup. A new football era was dawning thanks to a new generation of champions; some the children of Maghrebi immigrants (the ‘Beur’) and others second generation African immigrants (the ‘Black’). And a new social era was dawning as well. At least, that was what the then-president of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac thought; he was convinced that the victory of the Desaillys, Thurams, Deschamps, Blancs and Zidanes had become the symbol of a nation that was finally united, in peace with itself and its colonial past. But the peaceful society won over by the sweet sound of its champions’ goals would not last long.

First came 2002 with its presidential elections. The xenophobic leader of the far right Front National party Jean-Marie Le Pen, who had accused the Black-Blanc-Beurs of “not representing France”, polled more votes in the first round than the socialist candidate and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Then came the revolt of the banlieues: France’s feared ghetto-suburbs, where France 98’s heroes had become idols, went up in flames lit by the youngsters who lived there. During the storm, the national football team became the last bulwark of a winning multiracial France. The illusion lasts until 2006, when Zidane, who grew up in the Marseilleise suburb of Le Castelane, headbutted Italian player Materazzi during the final match of the World Cup in Germany. A tragic end to a brilliant career.

Zidane’s early exit from the game marked the beginning of the end of the Black-Blanc-Beur fairy tale. Its last chapter ending definitely at the South African World Cup on June 17. In the changing rooms of the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwame, the once-cocky players looked like defeated boxers. Loosing against Mexico first and then against South Africa (where they finally waved goodbye to the Cup) was a bitter blow. The team has already been accused of being out of control in recent times – a stark divide between the ‘good boys’ from the countryside (Brittany’s Gourcuff being the leader of this gang) and the ‘bad boys’ from the banlieues, like Ribéry, Gallas and Anelka. “Yohann isn’t comfortable with this team”, says Gourcuff-senior when the trainer, Domenech kicked his son out of the team, under pressure from the ‘bad boys’. The ‘bad boys’ won but their only feat in the whole World Cup was that of reproducing France’s geographical and social divide in the team. Despite their mediocracy, Ribéry and Anelka should be thanked. They have finally brought an end to the Black-Blanc-Beur football tale.