In any event, why is the banner “racist”? You multicuturalist fans should be delighted by it: Africa coloured like France, a huge melting pot to increase the great wealth that is multiculturalism. Or ware you assuming that they used Africa because they were targeting black players? I hope not, that’s racist as hell, to assume that Africa is the home of black people!

My comment about people getting passports to get into a national team was not made in regards to the French team. In fact, I don’t think there is ONE single player on the French team who wasn’t a French national already before being called in.

Let’s face it, France is a tremendous team and Domenecq did a great job putting those players together.

The class and speed of Henry, the amazing energy of Ribery, the control of Zidane (I was disappointed by his surrendering to cheap, provoked-provocations, but that’s another story).

I wished they’d score more, yes.

Now, let’s also look at Lithuania, a country that has been under Russian domination for years. It is probable that immigration has not been there what it is in more affluent European countries, and they see the world in very traditional way, divided along racial lines.

Hey, I bet you that if they had a Pele’ born there, they’d put him up front, on the kickoff line, with his cute Lithuanian jersey…

Of course it’s racial! I’m sorry but this comment just proves my entire point. You would never “wonder” about such a thing if the players were all white and were immigrants from caucasian countries. And to repeat: the majority of these nonwhite players were BORN IN FRANCE: exactly why is it that YOU refuse to acknowledge them as Frenchmen when THEY consider themselves as French?

And let’s get one thing straight once and for all: there seems to be this idiotic crap idea that just because you’re born in one country (Vieira) and then emigrate to another country (even at a very young age) where you’re raised and educated, then you can never be an authentic citizen of your new host country.

Well excuse me: just because I was born in Brazil doesn’t mean I’m not an American. I came to this country at the age of 4, was raised and educated here. I’m a US citizen. So why can’t I be considered an American? Why is it that Patrick Vieira can’t be considered an authentic Frenchman? He emigrated to France at the age of 7 or younger, was raised and educated there, and he ALWAYS played football there. Exactly what makes him incapable of being called a Frenchman?

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF AN AUTHENTIC FRENCHMAN?

I guess you’re in complete agreement with the French racists of Jean Marie Le Pen and his ilk who refuse to acknowledge the French team as being truly French — just because they’re all black.

Is the American politician Barack Obama not truly American because his parents are immigrants?

Patrick Vieira is French. He is also Senegalese by origin. He doesn’t know Senegal very well at all–he spent nearly his entire life in France. He considers himself a Frenchman and a Senegalese — and is quite proud to do so. Why do you prefer to stand alongside the nazis and racists like Le Pen who refuse to recognize him as such?

The fact that the France players can deal with this kind of thing day after day after day and still manage to be among the best in the world makes me proud to be a France fan.