Atmosphere at the stade Charléty on 8 july

Stade Charléty, south of PARIS. From 10 June, all the World Cup matches were broadcast on the giant screen, after several musical entertainments to get the crowd in the mood. This evening, the moment was special. FRANCE played CROATIA, and qualified for its first final in history. Moreover, the ADIDAS Football Park (at the Trocadéro) was closed this evening, and fans were told to go to the stade Charléty. As of 18h30, an hour before the gates opened, a hundred people were already waiting on the boulevard Kellerman.

3,000 people were expected, and more than 25,000 turned up. At 21h15 they came alive with shouts of “les bleus, les bleus”. At 21h30 the crowd went wild as Thierry HENRY (12) replaced Christian KAREMBEU (19).

In spite of a picture of mediocre quality, the party went strong all evening long. At 22h03, David SUKER’s goal (9) for CROATIA shook up the crowd, which went speechless. At that moment at Charléty, it was colder, there was no more sound, expressions were taut, eyes turned toward heaven as if in prayer. Two minutes later, Lilian THURAM (15) gave them back their confidence. The crowd rose to its feet and flags were waving.

The fans, young and old, came back to life. The weather became warmer and the crowd became nervous as they began to believe they would make it to the final. Once again, Lilian THURAM gave the fans their ticket to paradise. And Charléty, with its canvas roof and its cement which still smells new welcomed the joyful noise of its 25,000 fans. Before, it had held them in suspense as “les bleus” fought the 11 Croatians for 20 dangerous minutes.

But this time, far from the defeats of 1958, 1982 and 1986, FRANCE held on. The party can commence and the joy overflow. For four days