Far Post: Afro-Europe in the World Cup

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 7, 2014

Mamadou Sakho celebrates one of his two goals against Ukraine, which helped France overcome a two-goal deficit in their World Cup qualifying playoff. — Mamadou Sakho celebrates one of his two goals against Ukraine, which helped France overcome a two-goal deficit in their World Cup qualifying playoff.
Michel Euler/AP

Romelu Lukaku is of Congolese descent and is at the forefront of a large group of multi-ethnic players on the Belgian national team. — Romelu Lukaku is of Congolese descent and is at the forefront of a large group of multi-ethnic players on the Belgian national team.
Darko Bandic/AP

Belgium's multi-national makeup includes Kinshasa-born forward Christian Benteke, left, and captain Vincent Kompany, far right, whose father migrated from the Congo. — Belgium's multi-national makeup includes Kinshasa-born forward Christian Benteke, left, and captain Vincent Kompany, far right, whose father migrated from the Congo.
Yves Logghe/AP

Laurent Dubois is a historian and the author of Soccer Empire and is the editor of the Soccer Politics Blog. Follow him on Twitter @Soccerpolitics.