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QuarterFinal Italy-France French Celebrate; Italy Distraught |
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An elderly French woman said she hadn't seen so many youngsters smiling in years. Nearby, a distraught Italian sat with his flag on the floor, cursing his luck.
For two hours, the streets of Paris were virtually deserted Friday while France and Italy battled it out in a tense, scoreless World Cup quarter-final match.
But straight after France's penalty shootout victory, the streets went wild, with tens of thousands of people swarming the Champs-Elysees to celebrate France's first World Cup semi-final appearance since 1986.
One reveler, stripped to the waist, uncorked a crate of champagne, spraying crowds along the city's famous avenue. Policemen desperately tried to wave traffic away as supporters marched up and down the middle of the road.
No self-respecting driver dared not hoot his horn.
"In recent years, I'd come to the conclusion that all youngsters were miserable," said Jacqueline Pinard, an elegant woman in her 60s watching crowds embracing, dancing and waving French flags.
"With unemployment, they haven't had much to be cheerful about," she added. "I never considered myself a soccer fan. But now I see the good it does."
"We're in the semis, We're in the semis," the crowds screamed. "Allez Les Bleus," and "Where are the Italians, where are the Italians?"
One of them was in a restaurant just two blocks away.
Desolate at Italy's second defeat in a penalty shootout in successive World Cups, Roberto Cantarella said "it just wasn't meant to be."
In 1994 it was even worse, Italy losing the World Cup final on penalties to Brazil.
"But this time we were awful," Cantarella said. "We were too scared to attack. Too timid. Good luck to the French. They deserved it more."
French President Jacques Chirac watched the match at the Stade de France, and went to the French team's changing room after the match to congratulate them personally.
"This is sheer happiness after total stress," Chirac said after the match. "The whole team was extraordinary."
Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, arms aloft alongside Chirac after the penalty shooutout victory, described the French team as "beautiful."
At first he said he would prefer Croatia as a semi-final opponent. But then opted for Germany, citing the need for "revenge" against the country that knocked France out of the 1986 World Cup at the same stage.
Outside Paris City Hall, thousands of fans watched the match on a giant screen. Elsewhere, workers crowded around television sets in offices and bars.
"I was very anxious throughout the match," said Mathieu Fortier, 17. "I thought we'd win 1-0, but Italy had a strong defense."
Lara Picchi, a 30-year-old Italian, said the Italian players had "no spirit."
"I'm very upset," she said. "It's always the same when it comes to penalties."
Paul Brindle, an Englishman, said the penalty shootout brought back painful memories of England's defeat Tuesday night against Argentina. "It's no way to be knocked out of the World Cup," he said. "I know just how the poor Italians feel."
