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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2016 17:12:20 GMT
So, today is the beginning of the European football championship. I barely left my neighbourhood today, but I saw plenty of fans in their football shirts. The local youth hostel (Yves Robert) seems to have a huge group of Irish supporters although Ireland is not playing until the 13th. I also saw lots of Romanians in their yellow jerseys and had to wonder what they think of all of our Roma beggars, mostly from Romania. Then again, I didn't even see the beggars today, so they may have found it wiser to stay out of sight. "Normal" Romanians already hate them, which is one of the reasons they left the country, so an encounter on foreign soil can't be pleasant.
This area is within walking distance of the Stade de France, which is probably one of the reasons that some people are staying here, but it is also quite possible that the fact that some of the cheapest hotels in the city are here could be a reason to attract some of the poorer countries... like Romania.
The Eiffel Tower fan zone kicked off with a big concert last night that seems to have been a great success.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2016 21:11:28 GMT
So, the opening match was a real nail biter, but France won in the end 2-1 by scoring in the last 3 minutes. Even though I obviously support France, this was a relief to me even more because if the host team loses the very first match, it puts a damper on everything. In any case, Romania has not beaten France since 1972 so a loss would have been a major humiliation.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2016 16:31:54 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jun 11, 2016 17:40:00 GMT
Most likely trashing the hotel rooms, too.
I just saw Wales score again to take the lead against Slovakia.
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Post by mossie on Jun 11, 2016 20:17:12 GMT
Our football hooligans are a disgrace and the Russians are not much better, so they deserve one another. Our police are too soft with them, let's hope the French police teach them some manners.
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Post by htmb on Jun 11, 2016 20:36:51 GMT
The Marseille police may have their hands full tonight.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2016 5:40:09 GMT
It is being said that some of these matches should not be held at 21:00 because "fans" have all day to get drunk. Of course Poland-Northern Ireland isn't being held until 18:00 in Nice today, but the "fans" were already battling each other in Nice last night.
Apparently the biggest hooligan threat is going to be Ukraine-Poland, unfortunately also taking place in Marseille.
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Post by lagatta on Jun 12, 2016 13:05:09 GMT
Yes, is it a football championship or a drinking championship?
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Post by bjd on Jun 12, 2016 18:21:29 GMT
We went for a walk downtown this afternoon. Lots and lots of Spaniards wearing red shirts, a few wrapped in flags, even though the game is tomorrow evening. And we also saw one small group of Czech supporters, singing "Champs Elysées" and drinking beer. I imagined they thought the French beer was over-priced cat pee, but they seemed to be happy.
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Post by gabriele on Jun 12, 2016 19:13:31 GMT
I'm supporting France as well and enjoyed the win but the goal that won it...that was beyond wonderful and for all the garbage that has followed, it did set a tone which I hope is recreated in other matches. I am going to try to avoid all the finger pointing but from this distance (US) I think UEFA must examine their own contributions (negative ones) to the situations. The US is taken up with the Copa America so we don't get most of the Euro2016 matches live on tv.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 21:03:55 GMT
Congratulations to Italy 2-0 against Belgium, but I was kind of hoping that Belgium would win. They have their best team in years.
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Post by bjd on Jun 14, 2016 11:07:08 GMT
I'm not sure what "suspended disqualification" means, (thanks, BBC) but Russia has received it plus a fine of 150,000€ by the UEFA because of the behaviour of its fans.
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Post by patricklondon on Jun 14, 2016 11:09:07 GMT
I'm not sure what "suspended disqualification" means, (thanks, BBC) but Russia has received it plus a fine of 150,000€ by the UEFA because of the behaviour of its fans. I'm assuming it means that if there's any more trouble from Russia's fans, they'll be out, even if the repeat form of trouble would not, of itself, be enough to justify disqualification. Call it a final warning.
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Post by bjd on Jun 14, 2016 11:11:28 GMT
The hooligans have some support in Russia:
"The lads defended the honour of their country," Russian media quoted MP Igor Lebedev, who is also on the executive committee of the Football Union.
The spokesman for Russia's powerful Investigative Committee went even further.
"A normal man, as he should be, surprises them," tweeted Vladimir Markin, referring to European outrage at Russian hooligans. "They're used to seeing 'men' at gay parades," he concluded.
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Post by chexbres on Jun 14, 2016 12:35:05 GMT
In my neighborhood, as soon as the cafes open in the morning, around 07h30, there are supporters dressed in full regalia having several pintes of beer for breakfast. They are not leftovers from the night before, just getting in the required nourishment.
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Post by lagatta on Jun 15, 2016 10:17:10 GMT
That is a royal pain, as in some places they have had to ban alcohol sales (in cafés and bars, but also in supermarkets and little shope). Annoying for people who just want a beer or some wine quietly at home.
Why is Russia alone targeted? The England ultras have a pretty dreadful reputation as well (and I don't mean to generalize to all supporters). Is it because the Russian hooligans are more organized?
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Post by bjd on Jun 15, 2016 11:13:54 GMT
There were no Russians arrested, Lagatta, even though there were about 150 of them charging at the British fans. There are however 6 or 8 Brits, one Austrian and 3 Frenchmen in jail for the violence.
I read last night that 29 Russians were deported. I have seen news reports (BBC, Guardian, FR24) about the Russian football hooligans: body-builders, ultra right-wing, not drinkers (some) out to make trouble.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2016 6:15:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2016 17:55:07 GMT
The French love the Irish, who are seen as being very friendly and not at all aggressive. They have a favourite area for any sports match, whether it be football or rugby -- boulevard de Clichy between Place de Clichy and Place Blanche. Unfortunately they are a bit messy. The city could easily supply some huge temporary trash containers -- except they are prevented from doing so by the current state of emergency and the high terror alert. So our "green men" have to come and deal with the aftermath.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2016 5:36:43 GMT
France, Spain and Italy are already qualified for the next round. 13 more spots are still up for grabs.
Ukraine is already eliminated.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2016 21:19:30 GMT
So, France finished first in its group in spite of an unglorious 0-0 against Switzerland. Both teams are qualified for the next round.
However, the event of the day was the victory of Albania over Romania 1-0 because it's the first time they have ever made it into the final phase of an international competition and the first time they have beaten Romania since 1948. They finished 3rd in their group but are still clinging to a hope for qualification for the next round if they are among the "best" 3rd place teams.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2016 4:18:57 GMT
Two days of respite from football, or painful withdrawal for some. We are now down to the last 16. Turkey, Albania, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Czechy, Sweden and Austria are already eliminated. imageshack.com/a/img922/5255/18YKyY.jpg
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2016 20:52:21 GMT
I wonder if these 2 days off were planned in the knowledge that the British referendum was being held right now because the event would certainly have been a huge distraction for certain participating teams.
Meanwhile, it is interesting that the French rugby championship tonight (Toulon vs. Racing 92) was not held in France but in Barcelona because no big French stadium was available due to the Euro 2016. This made the event even more prestigious because Barcelona has the biggest stadium in Europe and all 92,000 seats were sold.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2016 20:58:18 GMT
Well, with England having lost to Iceland tonight, it looks like the country is adjusting the quality of its football team to its new status in the world.
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Post by mossie on Jun 28, 2016 15:04:01 GMT
At least we won't have to put up with a dummy like ollande lecturing us.
As for the footballers. Useless wankers slowed down by the weight of their wallets
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2016 17:00:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2016 19:50:15 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Jun 29, 2016 22:57:00 GMT
I like your green. While that might be a bit early, it is a way of reminding supporters that it is possible to have fun and hoist a few beers without becoming violent ijuts.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2016 16:44:42 GMT
Even though the French and Belgians like each other, authorities of both countries are sweating bullets at the idea of tommorow's match between Belgium and Wales tomorrow. Apparently up to 200,000 Belgians are planning to go to Lille, which is, after all, only 15km from the Belgian border. The stadium in Lille has 50,150 seats but the Belgian fans have only about 5000 tickets (since after all, nobody knew which teams would be playing in which stadiums in the quarter finals when the tickets were sold). The Lille fan zone holds only 20,000 people. So nobody knows if all of the cafés and bars will be able to absorb all of the Belgians, not to mention the Welsh.
I guess we'll find out.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 3, 2016 0:49:17 GMT
I live in La Petite-Italie, the historic Italian district of Montréal (though of course nowadays people of Italian descent live everywhere in the city and suburbs; it is more a business, cultural and sport supporter hub. So Italy's defeat to Germany (cue jokes about the Axis) has been marked by a deep silence. Alas I didn't watch the match because I have a rush of work - I can take a few minutes to bum off at web fora, but not watch a footie match. Really, the silence is palpable.
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