World Cup Win Triggers Identity Anxiety in Multiethnic France

Trevor Noah’s jest about country owing its victory to Africans raises official ire

The notion that France owes its World Cup soccer triumph to Africa—given the African heritage of many of its players—has seeped into the rhetoric of public figures as varied as the president of Venezuela and the host of “The Daily Show.”

France is not amused.

That’s because the barb cuts to the heart of one of the most delicate questions...