No one dared to hope for it. Yet, every Niçoise and Niçois dreamt of it! This Sunday, it will indeed be Les Bleus who face Les Bleus in the ultimate conquest for the title of World Football Champion.
France-Italy. A match that continues to be the subject of conversation, from corporate hallways to café counters, from the beach to the lively evenings in the old town. But, in the city of Nice, where a major part of the population traces its roots to the Italian boot, it’s difficult to choose between Domenech’s Les Bleus and Lippi’s Azzurri.
A promising duel that should sway the hearts in the neighborhoods of Nice, leaving some certain to be caught between two chairs — “blue from the promenade” — for many fans who, until now, have supported each other during the qualifying phases to this final. How many French supported the Italians against Germany or Ukraine, and how many Italians waved flags for the French who had ousted the Portuguese and Brazilians?
In recent days, Niçois windows and terraces have blossomed with tricolor banners where only the initial color changes, and often on the same balcony, you find both a flag and “una bandiera.” So, this Sunday evening, it will be “i fratelli di Nizza” (the brothers of Nice) who will meet “Niçois citizens”. The only weapons that should exist that night will be jests and ribbing, should one or the other team concede a goal. “It’s a World Cup final between two teams that know each other well and peoples who have learned to appreciate and nearly love each other.” Ricardo, the manager of a bar that will broadcast the match in Italian, hopes for an Italian victory but won’t be completely disappointed if the World Cup ends up in the hands of a Zizou he adores.
“We’re going to watch the match with family and there are as many Italians as there are French, and it’s actually quite funny because there are Italians who will support France and French who will hope for an Italian victory. It will mainly be a great opportunity to gather and follow a final that we hoped for without really believing it.” Fernand, Etienne, Paola, Chiara, and their family members will come together over a meal surely composed of French and Italian specialties accompanied by fine Bordeaux and sparkling Chianti. But, for whom will be the champagne cork? “You certainly know the joke that tells how the Italians learned to recork a champagne bottle after their last-minute defeat against the French team. I hope we can bring that joke up to date on Sunday evening.” It’s Etienne who eventually will have the last laugh!
A team is now just minutes away from the most significant coronation in world football, and undoubtedly Zidane’s teammates will face Toni’s men for the ultimate episode of a World Cup that wasn’t exceptional in terms of refereeing, but which provided a rather decent spectacle in terms of play and players. Speaking of video in refereeing, those gentlemen from FIFA would do well to seek advice from their rugby counterparts on the Board to remove their last doubts regarding the use of images to validate or invalidate a goal.
But let’s return to our Les Bleus who must make us dream for 90 minutes, or more if serious affinities develop, hoping nonetheless that the fate of this final is not sealed in a penalty shootout, always too cruel after so much effort.
And as you can hear a bit everywhere with a light Swiss accent: Allleeezzz leess Bleuuuusss.
