Final whistle: La Marseillaise loudly, then “I will survive”. At the Franco-British pub “The frog and roast beef” in Paris, as in the establishments in London where the French have gathered, the fans explode with joy following the qualification of the Blues once morest the Three Lions.
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In the two capitals, football lovers from the two nations who traditionally like to share World Cup matches have often preferred to have a “bar apart” for the occasion, just to better enjoy the atmosphere and be able to encourage their favorites without restraint. .
Paris: “The frog and roast beef” is traditionally a meeting place between French and English, in the heart of the French capital. This evening, flags of the two teams have been placed on the completely fogged up windows of the establishment, but inside, the atmosphere is largely in favor of the Blues.
London: many French people preferred to remain discreet, and among themselves. “Just leaving the metro, we were attacked by the English because we had our flags around our necks,” says Jérémy Piet, a 21-year-old student. “Well, that’s the game, it was a bit of provocation to walk around with our two-star jersey in the middle of London,” he quips.
AFP
To be able to encourage the Blues without being booed by the English, hundreds of French people lined up to enter the Zoo bar, privatized for the occasion by “Frogs in London”, an application which shares good plans and outings for the important French community in London.
“Since the start, I’ve been following the World Cup with my English friends, but there I didn’t want to be the only Frenchman in the group, it’s nice to watch the match between us”, explains Victor Vion, a Frenchman from 43 years old expatriate in London for seven years.
Fans start screaming “Giroud Giroud Giroud”. One of the waiters – English – dares a provoking “Harry Kane, Harry Kane”. He is gently whistled and ends up shouting with a strong English accent “Vive le France”.
First French goal
Paris: Came with five friends, Étienne Anthony, 31 years old and cheeks made up in blue-white-red, is enthusiastic “at the idea of beating the English”. “There is a good-natured rivalry between us,” he said. We don’t hate them, but we like to beat them anyway.”
Paris: At “Frog and Rosbif”, following the equalizer, the fans of the Three Lions, who had been rather discreet until then, became louder: “England” clap-clap-clap, “England” clap-clap-clap, ” It’s coming home,” the classic English fan chants cover the French supporters.
London: Harry Kane equalizes on penalty. “Hey guys can you imagine, we lose once morest England there? It’s not possible, I’m not going home tonight, it’s unimaginable,” breathes Olivier Airault, 28, beer in hand and anxious gaze. He lives with two English people.
London: Electric atmosphere in the pub between the second French goal and the penalty missed by Harry Kane. The supporters of the Blues jump for joy. A Frenchman throws his beer towards the English waiters. Red card: he is expelled from the bar manu militari.
AFP
Paris: Sam, 26, one of the English present at “Frog and Rosbif”, has lived in France for three years: “I’m obviously sad, but in the end it’s just a game”, admits- he. “I think England were the better team, we had more chances, we dominated. Any fan will tell you the referee was a bit biased, a lot of the decisions didn’t go our way.”
London: Fans walk out on Piccadilly. The statue was protected by wooden panels! A Marseillaise is started, booed in good humor by Moroccans, whose team will face France in the semi-finals. Here, it is the flags of Morocco and Palestine that we see the most.
