I agree with the second half of your comment, but in regard to the first, if selection were purely meritocratic then players like Karim Benzema would've played for France their whole careers. Going the other way, without politics, a player like Marcus Thuram would never make the French squad. He's only there because of his famous footballing father and is woefully inadequate compared to the rest of the squad.

Also FYI, there are some extremely talented Arab players, but France can often tap up players from its territories and former colonies and those are dominated by blacks. Many black players declare for France despite not being born in France proper. Some of the best "French" players of all time were actually born in places like Zaire (e.g., Claude Makelele).

I agree with the second half of your comment, but in regard to the first, if selection were purely meritocratic then players like Karim Benzema would've played for France their whole careers.

Also FYI, there are some extremely talented Arab players, but France can often tap up players from its territories and former colonies and those are dominated by blacks. Many black players declare for France despite not being born in France proper. Some of the best "French" players of all time were actually born in places like Zaire (e.g., Claude Makelele).