The French touch

By Nashwa Abdel-Tawab

Nantes' mural
Facing La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes, a giant mural has been erected in only five days by seven graffiti artists from Germany, South Africa and France. Symbolising the spirit of the World Cup, the mural incorporates elements representing universality, the earth, youth, cultural exchange and celebration. It shows footballers in a universe painted in the colours of the 32 World Cup teams.

A Gascon angle
Last week a photo exhibition, "Un ballon dans la photo", opened in Toulouse. According to director Michel Dieuzaide, the exhibit "aims to promote the art of photography but with an angle on the World Cup." The opening was attended by Beto Marcico, the ex-Argentine Toulouse FC player. Toulouse has also organised several festivities on the sidelines of the World Cup: a children's theatre festival, a fashion parade, a giant chessboard, "art and movement" dance, music of the South, Argentine tangos and drums of Tokyo -- all in the open air for free.

Bordeaux's outlook
The Gironde district held its "Tournoi des Deux Rives" last Sunday at the Place des Quinconces in Bordeaux. The nine-hour competition was for youngsters aged 14 to 17 from each of the 27 suburbs that make up the Greater Bordeaux community, located on both banks of the Garonne River. The tournament brought together 32 teams; matches were played five-a-side. In addition, the Place des Quinconces played host to "Footballito 98", a competition open to nine to 12-year-olds from the Aquitaine region.

Through thick and thin...
Guests receiving wedding invitation cards from Karl and Nadege, a young couple from Nantes, were asked for a photocopy of their car registration papers. The precaution was needed in order to get the green light since the Saint-Joseph de Porterie Church, where the wedding took place, was in the middle of a security zone. Guests at four other weddings in the area will have to go through the same procedure.

Postponed celebration
A gala evening in honour of the Nigerian team's participation in the 1998 World Cup was postponed in accordance with the official period of mourning following the death of Nigerian President Sani Abasha. The evening, initially planned for 12 June in Paris (Neuilly-sur-Seine), is expected to be rescheduled for 27 June.

Banana bonanza
The Danish team doctor is an avid supporter of the banana. The bags he brings with him to training are carefully packed with upwards of 40 bananas, which he then distributes to the players. It's the same at meal times; there are always bananas on the Danish players' tables. Every time the Danish squad shifts base, Dr Kreutzfeldt addresses the kitchen staff on the food requirements of his team of 22 Vikings. He always asks for bananas, especially green ones which are yet to fully ripen. The banana eaters managed to win their first match and beat Saudi Arabia with their new World Cup Danish banana weapon.

Close shave
The Danish team had some nervous moments in the bus on the way to training before their first match against Saudi Arabia. A few hundred metres from the Stade Bollaert, a vehicle very nearly crashed into the bus, following an error by its driver. The car stopped less than a metre from the back left-hand corner of the bus, provoking wild laughter among the players and giving a real fright to the team responsible for the security of the Denmark squad.

A royal suite
By staying at the "La Rèserve" Hotel (part of the Relais Chateau chain), the Romanian delegation is following in the footsteps of some prestigious guests. Romanian playmaker Gheorghe Hagi and defender Dan Petrescu are staying in room 11 which overlooks the banks of the Tarn River, and which has been especially redecorated at Hagi's request in shades of yellow. The delegation's secretary-general, Adalbert Casai, is in room 10, while defender Liviu Cibotariu is taking up residence in room 9, the same one that the Queen Mother slept in on her visit to the Toulouse-Lautrec museum 10 years ago. The hotel's management declined, however, to say which player is staying in the room occupied by former French President Valérie Giscard d'Estaing the previous week.

Bed of roses
Prior to the match between Saudi Arabia and Denmark a Lens volunteer presented Danish captain Michael Laudrup with a bouquet of red and white roses, Denmark's national colours, in honour of his 100th cap. Three days later Laudrup celebrated his 34th birthday.

Revenge goal
Months before the World Cup, French television focussed heavily on the lineup of the French team. It didn't particularly like the idea of including what commentators described as an unfit Christophe Dugarry. But coach Aime Jacquet had no choice but to play Dugarry after the team's midfield genius Zinedine Zidane threatened to boycott the team if Dugarry was left out. In France's opening match against South Africa, Dugarry scored the first, and what proved to be the winning goal, a header from a corner taken by Zidane. "I was really disappointed by the harsh criticism from the press and television," Dugarry said following the game. "My revenge was the goal."

Saudis settle in
At the Hotel Sofitel in Marcq-en-Bareul, where Saudi Arabia is based, nothing has been left to chance. Two floors have been put aside for the Saudi contingent, which has been placed under police protection. A room for prayer and a massage room have been especially installed in the hotel for the Saudi team, which has also brought along its own chef. The hotel removed alcohol from the hotel room mini-bars and disconnected the pay-per-view channels.