By Elsa Girard-Basset | Web journalist
Holder for most of the tournament, Christian Karembeu contributed to the greatest victory in the history of French football: the 1998 World Cup. With hindsight, Kanak returned to the term “black -blanc-beur”, so often used to describe his team, while evoking the current state of French society. With his usual frankness.
A duty player, not always the most spectacular, Christian Karembeu was nonetheless an essential cog in Aimé Jacquet's system during the 1998 World Cup. His reward? A place in eternity alongside his 22 comrades, who all made France dream and even united it beyond what one could think imaginable.
Christian Karembeu discusses diversity in France
Questioned by “Le Temps”, the former midfielder spoke of the power of the France 1998 adventure, and of this famous “black-blanc-beur” label:
This team etched in stone the multicultural identity of France. Black-white-beur France was not our team, it was the country. We gave it a face. We gave him pride. We have shown that France in all its diversity could be a winning France.
This team crowned world champion, it brought hope. The whole country celebrated together, it was magnificent. Behind, what do we notice? A black person in the United States is an African-American, who goes back to his African origins. A black person in France is a Frenchman. Well, it's true, especially when he wins… It's not a victory that changes everything. But ours made it possible to make all communities visible. For me, there is a France 98 generation just as there was a May 68 generation.
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Twenty years later, what is the situation? Unfortunately, divisions and communitarianism seem to be constantly gaining ground, which Karembeu deplores. Although a native of New Caledonia, he does not wish to make negative comments about France, and calls for moving forward:
France has made mistakes, but they must be placed in the context of the colonial era. And today, it is up to us to rewrite history in the light of what we now know. We must go beyond history as it was written by each king so that each individual can find their place in the world.
You will have understood: Karembeu wishes to emphasize the need for unity more than the slightest controversies to divide. Moreover, when questioned about the thorny case of Karim Benzema when he was a three-card player in the French team, the former Nantais player did not wish to link this issue to communist tensions:
In my opinion this is a mistake. In this country as elsewhere, there is a coach who makes his choices. Karim Benzema is an excellent player, but he was involved in affairs that did not serve him… I believe that we should not fall into the trap of seeing racism in every affair. It's counterproductive.
An integral part of a period of unity and hope for the whole country, Christian Karembeu hopes that everyone will continue this positive spirit which has taken hold of the country. For him, all petty controversies should not be a pretext for stirring the knife in the wound of past fractures. This is what is said.
