Muslim Players in Frence Squad 2012

When compared to other European national teams, France is a country that the majority of players are Muslims, along with the rise of Islamic religion in Europe and is caused by the presence of Muslim immigrants to Europe

There are six players Muslim French coach Laurent Blanc revealed in euro 2012. They are, Alou Diarra, Karim Benzema, Samir Nasri, Franck Ribery, Hatem Ben Arfa and Adil Rami.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Alou Diarra

Alou Diarra (born in Villepinte, Seine-Saint-Denis, July 15, 1981, age 31 years) is a French international footballer who currently plays for French club Marseille.  He also participated in the 2006 World Cup with France. Diarra was born in the commune of Villepinte in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis to Malian parents.













=====================================

2. Karim Benzema

He is a French international footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid in La Liga. Benzema was born in 19 December 1987 in the city of Athens, Greece, to nationals of Algerian descent.
His grandfather, Da Lakehal Benzema, lived in the village of Tighzert, located in the northern town of Beni Djellil in Algeria before migrating to Lyon, where he eventually settled in the 1950s.











====================================

3. Samir Nasri

Samir Nasri born 26 June 1987 in the town of La Gavotte Peyret in Septèmes-les-Vallons, to French nationals of Algerian descent. He is a French international footballer who plays for English club Manchester City in the Premier League and the France national team.
Nasri classified as a devout Muslim. In an interview in the Arab media shortly after bringing Manchester City champion, Nasri said Takbir.
"It's all thanks to Allah. Allah Akbar! "Said Nasri











=======================================


4. Franck Ribery

He is a French international footballer who plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and for the France national team. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for "pace, energy, skill and precise passing. Ribéry was born 7 April 1983 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais and raised in a low-income neighbourhood on the fringes of the city. When he was two years old, he and his family were involved in a car accident in his hometown, colliding with a truck. Ribéry suffered serious facial injuries that resulted in more than one hundred stitches and left two long scars down the right side of his face.

There is a very good quote from Ribery, He said: "Islam is the source of my strength inside and outside the football field. I'm having a pretty hard life and I have to find something that brings me to salvation, and I found Islam.


 ====================================

5. Hatem Ben Arfa

Hatem Ben Arfa born 7 March 1987 is a French footballer who plays for English club Newcastle United in the Premier League.
















==========================================

 6.Adil Rami

He was born 27 December 1985) is a French international footballer who currently plays for Spanish club Valencia CF in La Liga. He plays in central defence for the club and is known for his physical strength, free kicks, and imposing height standing at nearly 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m).













 ----------------------------------------------------------------

Muslim Players in Germany Squad 2012

1. Sami Khedira

Sami Khedira  was born in 4 April 1987 is a German footballer currently playing for Real Madrid Club and the German National Team. Khedira moved to Real Madrid from VfB Stuttgart in 2010. He is considered a dynamic midfielder with "flawless aerial ability" who can cover a lot of ground, recover the ball and quickly join in the team attack with his powerful mid-range shooting.[

Khedira was born in Stuttgart. His father is from Tunisia and his mother is German so he is a muslim . Sami's younger brother Rani plays for the youth ranks of VfB Stuttgart and is a member of the Germany U17 team

Khedira was in the starting lineup in eight qualification matches for Euro 2012, helping Germany top their group with a record ten wins out of ten matches.


2. İlkay Gündoğan

İlkay Gündoğan was born in 24th October 1990, he is a German footballer of Turkish descent who plays for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Germany national team as a midfielder, having previously played for VfL Bochum and 1. FC Nuremberg. Gündogan was a central figure in Dortmund's 2011-2013.

3. Mesut Özil

Mesut Özil Was born 15 October 1988 is a German footballer who plays for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Germany national football team. Özil has been a youth national team member since 2006, and a member of the German national team since 2009. He gained international attention during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was nominated for the Golden Ball Award, which is awarded to the tournament's best player. Following his breakout performance at the World Cup, he was transferred from Werder Bremen to Real Madrid in August 2010.

Özil is a third-generation Turkish-German, who, in reference to his game, concludes, "My technique and feeling for the ball is the Turkish side to my game. The discipline, attitude and always-give-your-all is the German part. Although of Turkish descent, his entire life has been committed to Germany. His ancestors are from Devrek, Zonguldak in Northern Turkey 

He is a practicing Muslim. He recites the Holy Quran before his matches. Talking to the Berlin-based daily Der Tagesspiegel, Özil said, "I always do that before I go out (on the pitch). I pray and my teammates know that they cannot talk to me during this brief period." 


 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Germany’s football team is a model of integration, though not all Turkish fans approve

Mesut Ozil's fans - with German flag and symbol of the Turkish crescent and star
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

İlkay Gündoğan with Turkish & German Flags