GERMANY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - French fans wait outside the national team's hotel in Berlin

Record ID: 335486

  • Title: GERMANY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - French fans wait outside the national team's hotel in Berlin
  • Date: 11th July 2006
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JULY 09, 2006)(REUTERS) WIDE OF HOTEL WHERE FRENCH NATIONAL TEAM ARE STAYING CLOSE UP OF MAN WITH FRENCH NATIONAL MASCOT, COCKEREL"BALTHAZAR" FRENCH FANS WITH ROOSTER MASCOT AND MOCK WORLD CUP CUPS OUTSIDE THE FRENCH TEAM HOTEL FRENCH FAN WITH AN OVERSIZE INFLATED BALL FRENCH FANS WITH ROOSTER MASCOT AND MOCK WORLD CUP CUPS OUTSIDE THE FRENCH TEAM HOTEL S
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5PLVO67KOOJSOGESD3GKF7LC6
  • Story Text: French fans arew waiting outside the national team's hotel in Berlin to try and get a glimpse of their heroes as the world's most popular sporting event reaches its climax on Sunday (July 9, 2006) when Italy take on France in the World Cup final.
    The fans had the French national mascot, the rooster with them. This particular cockerel, called Balthazar had come all the way from France, and even been to some of the matches, the fans had successfully managed to smuggle him through security into the stadium.
    Raymond Domenech's French team will also be counting on their luck to repeat their 1998 World Cup as Champions. They have scored eight times and let in only two goals.
    They made a sluggish start to the competition but improved dramatically in the knockout stage, defeating champions Brazil in the quarter-finals.
    The teams' strong defensive records suggest a tight match in keeping with many at this World Cup, a tactical battle in which each side could cancel out the other.
    A single mistake or a flash of skill may make the difference.
    Zinedine Zidane could provide the touch of genius to claim France's second World Cup, eight years after he inspired his country to their first title.
    Victory would be the perfect way for the talented playmaker and captain to bow out in his last competitive match.
    Millions have gathered to party and watch matches on big screens at the Berlin Fan Mile and others across Germany, fuelling the festive atmosphere which has reigned throughout the tournament.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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