Colonial history adds fire to France v Tunisia

the norm, however, as past clashes have been a forum for France’s marginalised migrant communities to vent their frustrations.

There are around 700,000 Tunisians living in France and Tunisia’s 2008 friendly against France in Paris was watched by many of them who whistled when the French anthem played and jeered every touch of the ball by France substitute Hatem Ben Arfa, who is of Tunisian descent.

It led to an angry reaction from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who summoned the French Football Federation to a meeting and demanded no more matches on French soil against the national teams of former colonies from north Africa. – Reuters

Fixtures

Today: Tunisia v France (5pm); Australia v Denmark (5pm); Poland v Argentina (9pm); Saudi Arabia v Mexico (9pm) Tomorrow: Croatia v Belgium (5pm); Canada v Morocco (5pm); Japan v Spain (9pm); Costa Rica v Germany (9pm)

/ ANNEGRET HILSE /REUTERS France players Camavinga, Griezmann and Tchouameni at training ahead of a key match against Tunisia.

/ JUAN LUIS DIAZ /GETTY IMAGES Wahbi Khazri of Tunisia was born on the French island of Corsica.