FRANCE: SCENES FROM PARIS AS FRENCH SOCCER SQUAD WIN THE WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE MARRED BY ACCIDENT
Record ID:
992787
FRANCE: SCENES FROM PARIS AS FRENCH SOCCER SQUAD WIN THE WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE MARRED BY ACCIDENT
- Title: FRANCE: SCENES FROM PARIS AS FRENCH SOCCER SQUAD WIN THE WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE MARRED BY ACCIDENT
- Date: 13th July 1998
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 12, 1998) (RTV) 1. HUGE AND JUBILANT CROWD OUTSIDE CITY HALL 2. FANS SHOUT 3. FANS UP LAMPPOST AS FIREWORKS EXPLODE 4. FANS RUN DOWN STREET SHOUTING 5. FIREWORKS OVER STADE DE FRANCE 6. HAPPY FRENCH FANS LEAVE STADIUM 7. BRAZILIAN FANS LEAVE STADIUM 8. FRENCH FANS CARRY HUGE FLAG OUT 9. FRENCH GIRLS CHANTING 10. LONE BRAZILIAN FAN SITTING BY GATE 11. EIFFEL TOWER ILLUMINATED, PAN TO CROWDED CHAMPS ELYSEES 12. VARIOUS OF FANS SURROUNDING OR ON CARS 13. FANS BY ARC DE TRIOMPHE WHICH HAS ILLUMINATED SIGN 'MERCI LES BLEUS' 14. FIREWORKS SEEN IN DISTANCE OVER CROWDED AVENUE 15. SEVERAL CROWDED AVENUES LEADING UP TO ARC DE TRIOMPHE (JULY 13, 1998) 16. ARC DE TRIOMPHE WITH (FRENCH MIDFIELD PLAYER) "ZINEDINE ZIDANE" WRITTEN IN LIGHTS 17. BUS CARRYING FRENCH SOCCER TEAM ARRIVING AT TRAINING CAMP 18. ZINEDINE ZEDANE (RED BAND ON WRIST) AND PLAYER LEBOUEF AT CLAIREFONTAINE/ VARIOUS OF CROWDS CHEERING 19. CROWDS/ PLAYERS CHEERING AND CLAPPING IN BUS (BALD HEAD) BEHIND SITTING IN BUS 20. BUS MOVING AWAY/ PLAYERS IN BACK OF BUS WAVING TO CHEERING SUPPORTERS 21. WIDE OF SCENE OF ACCIDENT 22. VARIOUS OF INJURED ON STRETCHERS/ BEING ATTENDED TO BY MEDICS 23. INJURED ON STRETCHER BEING CARRIED TO AMBULANCES 24. OVERTURNED CAR 25. MEDICS ATTENDING TO INJURED ON STRETCHERS 26. MEDICS CARRYING INJURED ON STRETCHER 27. WIDE OF SCENE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 27th July 1998 13:00
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- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City:
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA1X96NIV7981JJX6J4LRAG0VNJ
- Story Text:There have been amazing scenes in Paris after the hosts France won the World Cup for the first time in their history.
The celebrations, though, were marred after a car ploughed into a crowd on the Champs Elysees, injuring dozens of people, 10 seriously.
Proud France stood as tall as the Eiffel Tower after winning the World Cup on Sunday (July 12) night.
Not only did they win it for the first time, but they did it in style on home soil beating the firm favourites and defending champions, Brazil 3-0.
The champagne flowed and laughter mingled with joyful tears in a frenzy of celebration across the country as France finally fulfilled their World Cup destiny.
An inspired win over the defending champions, triggered an unprecedented public outpouring of joy as millions crammed the boulevards and byways of cities, towns and villages in every corner of the nation.
Shortly after midnight, an estimated one million people were dancing the night away on Paris's elegant Champs Elysees.
France, where the World Cup was conceived, had never before reached the final in 68 years of trying.
But two first-half goals from midfield playmaker Zinedine Zidane and a third by Emmanuel Petit seconds from the end were more than enough to hand Brazil their worst ever World Cup defeat Not even the dismissal of Marcel Desailly could dampen the onward march of the French, who became the first host team to lift the trophy since Argentina won in Buenos Aires 20 years ago.
The street celebrations started at halftime when France led 2-0 and the air was filled with a cacophony of beating drums, shrill whistles, honking car horns and exploding firecrackers.
As the match finished, central Paris was awash with fans chanting "Zidane for President" and an illuminated sign above the Arc de Triomphe read 'Merci Les Bleus'.
Cars chased along the grand boulevards, young supporters leaning out of the windows in their excitement, yelling at passers-by and waving the tricolore flag.
Police estimate that more than 100,000 people packed the centre of the capital to watch the final on a huge screen set up on the banks of the Seine.
Supporters, many with their faces painted red, white and blue, clung to lampposts, traffic lights and shop awnings to get a glimpse of the action.
Thousands more people dispersed into the side streets, packing bars and restaurants to watch the game.
Later cheering fans flocked to the French training camp in the Paris suburb of Clairefontaine to welcome the returning French soccer heroes.
But the festivities were somwhat soured after a car, travelling at high speed and apparently out of control, smashed into a group of soccer fans close to the Arc de Triomphe early on Monday (July 13) morning.
Thousands of supporters were still on the boulevard at the time of the accident around 3 a.m.(0100 GMT).
A fire brigade spokesman said the last count was 60 injured.
Many people formed a human chain to keep onlookers away as medical staff rushed to the aid of the injured, other furious fans turned over the car and tried to set it alight.
Several people were carried away on stretchers.
The impromptu Paris street party was probably the biggest outdoor celebration in the French capital since Liberation Day in 1944.
Before the accident, the police had reported only a few minor incidents. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
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