Romelu Lukaku of Internazionale.
Mattia Ozbot/Soccrates/Getty Images
Behind the multi-racial composition of the elite European teams competing in the tournament lies a complex and painful history.
Mario Balotelli was targeted by racist supporters in Verona in November 2019.
EPA-EFE/SIMONE VENEZIA
Race is embedded into the way many Italians look at themselves. The Italian nation is thought to be constituted first and foremost by white Catholics.
France’s World Cup winner Paul Pogba was also eligible to play for Guinea.
Peter Powell/EPA
It’s time Africa’s top administrators tried to find out why top African players are choosing to represent European countries, so that they can work to rectify the situation.