The FIFA World Cup is one of the highlights of this early summer, and Nice is not immune to the soccer fever that will sweep across France, at least as long as France is qualified.
Nice Première wanted to know more about the habits of the people of Nice during this grand football event. The festivities kick off with Dominique Boy Mottard, Rudy Salles, and Patrick Mottard telling us how they experience this competition and what it inspires in them.
When politics shares its view on soccer, here’s what happens:
Dominique Boy Mottard
General Councillor
Nice Première: The FIFA World Cup is starting in a few days. What are your thoughts on this?
Dominique Boy Mottard: Every time, I tell myself no, that I won’t watch it… but I get caught up in the game and end up getting passionate.
NP: What do you think the French team will achieve this year?
DBM: Among the top favorites, I suppose?
NP: Besides the Blues, who are your favorites in this competition?
DBM: Reason would make me answer: Brazil, Germany… but my heart leans towards an African team that could finally break through the quarterfinals; and for a very special reason, Serbia-Montenegro, to show them they were wrong to split into two independent states…
NP: Will you be following the matches and where will you watch them?
DBM: For the French team’s matches in the first round, in principle at my office, with friends. For other matches, I trust my husband to make me watch Trinidad and Tobago/Paraguay or Costa Rica/Ecuador at any time of the day or night…
NP: If you don’t follow them, what will you do instead?
DBM: There’s a life outside of football…
NP: Predict the World Cup final and its winner!
DBM: France/Brazil, of course. The Zizou team winning again, obviously! And one, and two, and three, and four… /zero!
Patrick Mottard
Municipal Councillor in Nice
General Councillor
Nice Première: The FIFA World Cup is starting in a few days. What are your thoughts on this?
Patrick Mottard: Of course. My schedule has already undergone the necessary adjustments!
NP: What do you think the French team will achieve this year?
PM: A priori, as favorites alongside Brazil, but the eternal problem: will the players have recovered from their fatigue following their participation in the major European championships?
NP: Besides the Blues, who are your favorites in this competition?
PM: Brazil, Germany for the home advantage (even if its team is a notch below), maybe Argentina, and anyway, one or two surprise teams (like South Korea, Mexico, perhaps Ukraine or Japan) that have players less solicited throughout the year. Remember the victories of Denmark and Greece at the European Championship and the performances of Croatia, Turkey… and South Korea in the last World Cups.
NP: Will you be following the matches and where will you watch them?
PM: France’s matches at my office, which will be widely open for the occasion. For others, just about anywhere, as soon as possible, because important sessions of the Municipal Council and the General Council are on the horizon.
NP: If you don’t follow them, what will you do instead?
PM: My duty…!!!!
NP: Predict the World Cup final and its winner!
PM: Logically, Brazil/Germany. The heart says Brazil/France. The small bet, Argentina/Netherlands; the long shot, Ukraine/Mexico. But anyway, we know well, it’s France who’s going to win… with its semi-retirees!
Rudy Salles
Deputy Nice
Nice Première: The FIFA World Cup is starting in a few days. What are your thoughts on this?
Rudy Salles: It’s a huge media and sports event. Fans will thrill to their teams. Germany has “put out the fine china” to host this event. I sincerely hope it will be a celebration of football. I just hope that the Iranian President will be banned from stadiums in Germany. In a festival like this, someone who denies the Holocaust and threatens a UN member state with disappearance has no place at an event of this nature.
NP: What do you think the French team will achieve this year?
RS: After the feats of 1998, there were underperformances in 2002 and the European Cup of 2004. But that’s the genre’s law, there’s an inevitable element of chance. However, the recent matches against Mexico and Denmark have heartened us. Our players seem motivated and so are the supporters. Thus, we must believe because nothing is impossible. In 1998, who would have seriously announced the final result? Hardly anyone!
NP: Besides the Bleus, who are your favorites in this competition?
RS: I have a soft spot for Brazil but it’s cultural. In that country, the people and football are one.
NP: Will you be following the matches and where will you watch them?
RS: I will try to follow the matches, especially those that France participates in. It will, of course, be in front of the TV, at home or at the National Assembly.
NP: If you don’t follow them, what will you do instead?
RS: When I can’t follow the matches, I’ll make sure to be informed of the outcomes. Even during sessions, at the Assembly, it’s possible!
NP: Predict the World Cup final and its winner!
RS: Difficult to answer this question without taking the risk of being wrong. So, I’ll play the nostalgic and I’ll say 3-0 in favor of France against Brazil. It would be a rematch that would guarantee beautiful football and would confirm continuity of ideas…
