France commemorates the Vel d’Hiv roundup after a Paris plaque honoring rescuers is vandalized

PARIS (AP) — France on Sunday commemorated the Vel d’Hiv roundup, a mass arrest of Jews by French police in 1942, one of the most shameful acts undertaken by the country’s wartime government.

French police rounded up thousands of Jews over two days in July 1942, wresting children from their mothers’ arms and dispatching everyone to Nazi death camps. At a time of rising antisemitism, France honors those victims every year as it tries to keep their memory alive.

France is home to Europe’s largest Jewish population and has seen a surge in antisemitic acts, including threats, vandalism and physical violence, following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.

A plaque in Paris honoring a couple and their daughter who saved a 13-year-old child during the roundup and were recognized by Israel as Righteous Among the Nations was vandalized ahead of the ceremony, French authorities said.

“To attack the Righteous is to desecrate the entire universe," said Alice Rufo, a deputy defense minister. "The plaque will be restored. Their memory remains undiminished. In the face of antisemitism, in all its forms, the Republic will not yield an inch.”

Following the Nazi invasion of France in 1940, the country was ruled by a government commonly known as Vichy France, which collaborated with Nazi Germany.

Vel d’Hiv derives from the name of the Winter Velodrome that many of the detainees were confined in before they were deported to concentration and extermination camps. On July 16 and 17, 1942, more than 4,500 police officers were mobilized and dozens of buses requisitioned. It was the largest roundup of Jews carried out in France during World War II. Arrests continued until July 20. A total of 13,152 people were deported, a third of them children.

It took France’s leadership 50 years after World War II to officially acknowledge the state’s involvement in the Holocaust, when then-President Jacques Chirac apologized for the French authorities’ role in the Vel d’Hiv raids.

Yonathan Arfi, President of CRIF (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France) delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the 84th anniversary of the 1942 Vel d'Hiv police roundup, the largest roundup of Jews in France during World War II, and paying tribute to the Righteous Among the Nations of France in Paris, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

Alice Rufo, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, right, hugs Barbara Nguyen, descendant of Paul Nguyen, recognized as Righteous Among the Nations, left, after the ceremony marking the 84th anniversary of the 1942 Vel d'Hiv police roundup, the largest roundup of Jews in France during World War II, and paying tribute to the Righteous Among the Nations of France, in Paris, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

Serge Klarsfeld, President of the Association of Sons and Daughters of Jewish Deportees from France, delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the 84th anniversary of the 1942 Vel d'Hiv police roundup, the largest roundup of Jews in France during World War II, and paying tribute to the Righteous Among the Nations of France ,in Paris, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

Arno Klarsfeld arrives at ceremony marking the 84th anniversary of the 1942 Vel d'Hiv police roundup, the largest roundup of Jews in France during World War II, and paying tribute to the Righteous Among the Nations of France in Paris, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

Alice Rufo, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, second left, Aurore Bergé, Minister Delegate for Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination, third left, Emmanuel Gregoire Paris mayor, center, and Yonathan Arfi, President of CRIF (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France), third right, attend the ceremony marking the 84th anniversary of the 1942 Vel d'Hiv police roundup, the largest roundup of Jews in France during World War II, and paying tribute to the Righteous Among the Nations of France in Paris, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Ferran Torres delivered Spain the winning goal at the World Cup with a play made possible by two of the team's best players and two who substituted into the final against Argentina on Sunday.

Until that point, Spain put 11 shots on net and could not crack opposing goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez.

"We had many chances," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. "But Dibu was nothing short of exceptional.”

The teams had played 105 minutes, and Spain looked to get a big advantage when Enzo Fernández was sent off in regulation stoppage time with his second yellow card.

Still, playing 11 men against 10, Spain was unable to capitalize on any chances through the first half of extra time, including a disallowed goal when the referee ruled that Mikel Merino stepped on one of Argentina defender Nicolás Otamendi’s feet prior to Nico Williams putting the ball into the net.

With the score 0-0 coming out of the midway point of extra time, Spain got the ball at midfield. Argentina, playing shorthanded, put up very little resistance.

Pau Cubarsí passed the ball up the field to Marc Cucurella, then Eric García and then up to Martín Zubimendi, who found Yamal on the right. Yamal put a shot on net very early in the game and also had another earlier scoring chance, earning the praise of teammates and his coach for being one of the best on the field at 19 years old.

“He’s played great football, a football that will help him to mature and be even a greater footballer than what he is,” de la Fuente said. “He’s really sacrificed for the collective good, and this is very important in our squad.”

Yamal got the ball to Pedro Porro, who touched the ball almost as much as anyone else in the final.

This was the most important of Porro's 130 touches, and he made it count. His right-footed cross into the box almost went out of play past the far post.

Instead of going past the goal line and out of play, Williams, who entered in the 75th minute, headed the ball back toward Torres.

It was at that moment that de la Fuente flashed back to the goal Andrés Iniesta scored in extra time to help Spain win the 2010 World Cup.

“That picture, that image is very vividly on my mind,” de la Fuente said.

Torres, who came on just past the hour mark, connected perfectly with his left foot. The shot, Spain’s 20th of the match to none for Argentina at the time, sailed past a couple of defenders and Martínez to give Spain a 1-0 lead in the 106th minute.

“I think at the end of the day, it was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said. “I feel very happy. I was heavily criticized during the World Cup, but I think it was written in destiny and things. But I always have that chance, that option to continue, and God gives it to those who believe it, who deserve it most.”

The Barcelona star kicked down the corner flag as he was mobbed by teammates and fans celebrated around him.

“I’m so happy for him to have scored this goal,” de la Fuente said. “He will make it into history. He has already made history and he deserves it.”

De la Fuente said Spain's players and coaches tried to keep their cool knowing the match was not over.

Torres nearly scored again but was offside, and Spain survived corner opportunities by Argentina to knock off the defending champions and win its second World Cup title.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Spain's Ferran Torres (7) scores the opening goal of his team during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) fails to save a shot by Spain's Ferran Torres (7) who scored their opening goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Spain's Ferran Torres (7) scores their first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Spain's Ferran Torres (7) scores their first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Spain's Ferran Torres (7) scores their first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)