Former defender Lilian Thuram diuscusses with Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale as FC Internazionale celebrates it's 20th league title following the Serie A TIM match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio - Serie A TIM at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 19, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Former defender Lilian Thuram celebrates with his son Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale as FC Internazionale celebrates it's 20th league title following the Serie A TIM match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio - Serie A TIM at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 19, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez of France clashes with Ronaldo of Brazil as Lilian Thuram looks on during , Brazil 0 vs 3 France - the FIFA World Cup final 1998 ⚔️.
That victory in 1998 helped to give people greater courage and that desire to speak out about equality and injustice, and to demand greater equality. 1998 was also the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the French colonies, so this was an important, symbolic moment in ways that might not have been perceived at the time. If you look at the composition of the French team and all of the diversity that was there, that all of these players from these different backgrounds could represent France and go on and win, that was a very powerful message to send out to society. It made you look at other areas of society where ethnic minorities were under-represented and to think about whether they too could benefit from that diversity. It really cemented the fact there could be a questioning of dominant models of French identity and thinking about it in different ways, and that has been the most important legacy that you can hark back to 1998 - to think about a more inclusive France and to transfer that to other areas of society. This is important because there are always people who are looking to close the door on these debates or to turn back the clock on things that have changed.