France: The masala mix
Patrick Vieira and Lilian Thuram
The man from Senegal shares a frame with a Guadeloupean.
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Vieira (right) was born in Dakar in western Africa. He came to France when he was eight.
A stylish 6-foot-4 midfielder, one of FIFA's 100 best players, he has thus far had an exciting career playing for AC Milan and Arsenal, and now Juventus.
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He has represented France 93 times and scored a goal this World Cup on his birthday, June 23 (he shares a birthday with team-mate Zinadine Zidane, 4 years apart), against Togo.
It was he who persuaded Zidane to come out of retirement and lead the French team in World Cup 2006.
Two weeks before the Cup, gas was pumped into the air-conditioning ducts of Vieira's home on the French Riviera while he, wife Cheryl and her teenage daughter Cheries were sleeping. The house was robbed of jewellery and a Mercedes; fortunately, Vieira suffered no ill effects.
Thuram comes from the other side of Atlantic. Guadeloupe is situated in the Caribbean, a few hundred miles east of Puerto Rico.
Born Ruddy Lilian Thuram-Ulien, he had plans to become a Catholic priest before he was hypnotised by the Beautiful Game. One of the finest defenders in the world, he plays with Vieira at Juventus.
Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images
Also See: Football Fiesta: The complete coverage
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