FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template
A Scottish ceilidh and a Brazilian carnival were in full swing under the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday as the two most colourful sets of supporters in the world partied before the opening game of France 98.
To the skirl of the bagpipes and the rhythm of samba drums, the fans started what promised to be a 24-hour party ahead of the Brazil-Scotland match at the Stade de France. Hundreds of fans have travelled to France without tickets and are resigned to watching the match on television as touts pacing the chic Champs Elysees are asking up to 1,600 US dollars for entry to the match. “Six of us travelled by van and are staying in a tent in the Bois de Boulogne – it’s great,” said a kilted Dave Corr from Whitburn. “No, none of us have tickets and they are too expensive to buy from a tout. A thousand quid, you must be joking? We will just watch it on one of the big screens the organisers are putting up – we are here for the crack. We drank in a Scots bar last night. There were so many people that they had to close the street – the police came, but they were great.”
Many Brazilians are also ticketless and several carried signs to advertise their desire to pay richly for the privilege of watching the world champions.
“I’ve flown from Sao Paulo to see the World Cup but I cannot get any tickets,” said Alexandre Damaceau, who was holding a sign asking for tickets in three languages. “I’m going to stand here at the the top of the Champs Elysees all day to see if I can buy a ticket for the opening game.”
He was approached by a burly Englishman who was handing out leaflets which offered to buy and sell tickets.
“It will cost you 1600 US dollars for a ticket to see Scotland and Brazil,” said Dave, a Londoner who would not reveal his surname. “I do this sort of thing at all the big events, like the Olympics and Wimbledon. Sure it’s expensive but there are people willing to buy.” The Scots supporters, popularly known as the Tartan Army, made their own fashion statement in the haute couture capital of the world. They paraded down the Champs Elysees in kilts of various tartans complete with designer T-shirts advertising everything from beer to condoms. Several also painted their faces with the St Andrews Cross in true Braveheart style.
Ground Zero for the fans of Scotland and Brazil is the Eiffel Tower, Paris’ most famous landmark, and they arrived carrying bottles of champagne, wine and spirits and cans of beer. They mingled with tourists, gave renditions of “Flower of Scotland” and current favourite “We’re Here in Gay Paree” for international television crews and had impromptu kickabouts in the classy Champ de Mars.
“We had a 15-a-side match against some Brazilians and thumped them – let’s hope the boys can do the same tomorrow,” said Jim Fisher, as he pulled cans of beer out of a fountain where they had chilled nicely. “This is just great – you could not have asked for a better opening match. Scotland versus Brazil in Paris – pure magic.” Few fans took notice of the countdown clock on the Eiffel Tower which informs everyone that there are just 571 days to go before the year 2000. For the partying Scots and Brazilians the only date that matters is June 10.