Silly and I headed for the stadium while
the others kindly took our bags to the hotel. Outside the Metro station there
were a number of drink and eateries packed out with fans of both teams and the
atmosphere was relaxed as everyone mixed under the close watch of the largest
number of heavily armoured CRS I had seen at a match. They were complete with
helmets hanging from their belts in a relaxed fashion so I took the opportunity
to unveil the Lens memorabilia that I had hidden about my person in case of
trouble. Even the sound of the Paris fans warming up with a French rendition of
Flower of Scotland didn’t daunt us as we wandered up to the ground, past row
upon row of CRS troopers who, as we passed them, received the order to helmet
up. It was like a prelude to a scene from a political riot and that very soon
there would be bricks and CS gas thrown and baton charges. Yet the atmosphere
prior to this had been convivial with supporters mixing freely outside the
Metro station and you had to think that this was a gross overreaction to what
had been such a calm evening and could only end up antagonising the situation:
making a problem where there hadn’t been one. Asking directions from a helmeted
figure we were pointed quickly in the direction of the stadium and left before
anything happened that could spoil our mood on what was a warm and enjoyable
evening. You had to feel to a certain extent sorry for the Paris fans whose
reputation had provoked this police presence as it would only end up
antagonising those fans who had no intention of causing trouble.
The Stade de France didn’t disappoint
however as the relaxed atmosphere returned with bars opened out onto terraces with
tables and chairs filled with both sets of fans enjoying a pre-match meal and
drink and no sign of body armour, riot shields or helmets. People wandered
freely with their drinks in front of the flying saucer-like stadium and it made
you realise this was how football should be. Inside the stadium, the crowd was
building and yellow jacketed people wandered around serving drinks from giant backpacks
and I was excited to see the opportunity to extend my collection of souvenir
plastic cups that included the Arras Festival, Indochine in Brussels and would
now include Lens Stade de France. It didn’t take much to make me happy and
Silly seemed to be enjoying the rare opportunity to drink at a football
stadium, even if it was watered down! Funnily enough after he had finished a
drink or two he didn’t feel like attacking anybody or making racist gestures. Strange
that…
The atmosphere rose to the occasion though
as an estimated 17000 Lens fans added to a 70000 crowd with scarves aloft and
after an early couple of scares there was delirium as Coulibaly muscled his way
through challenges to drill a shot into the Paris net. The group of Paris fans
who had laughed and mooned at the Lens fans around them were subdued as we
celebrated: one of those moments of sheer joy and superiority that sport
occasionally offered. For Lens fans at the moment these occasions were rare and
needing to be cherished: we were beating the Champions!
Rudi Riou in the Lens goal had a personal battle with Paris’
Cavani as the Lens defence decided that he wasn’t going to score anyway so let
him through on goal twice: the first occasion Rudi palmed his attempted lob
away and the second Cavani managed to get the ball past him only for the effort
to hit the young frame of Cavare in front of the Lens goal.
“On est chez nous…” rang out the Lens fans in the Curva
Sud yet this was to be the final moment of good fortune for Lens as Cabaye
scored from the edge of the area – to the muted delight of Newcastle-supporting
Silly who had been a big fan of him when he had played in the NorthEast and was
excited to see him play again. We didn’t share his satisfaction at the goal for
his hero despite his protestations that he had “taken it well”.
Worse was to follow as Rudi punched clear only for
Maxwell to deliver one of the goals of the weekend: a sweet chip that had the
Lens keeper forlornly tumbling into the net. Once again he had taken it well
but none of us, bar Silly, were going to admit it. His “this is a great
spectacle for French football” view wasn’t getting many fans.
The rest of the match went from bad to worse as Cavani
dived to get Lens young defender Gbamin sent off for a second bookable offence.
The Argentinian duly tucked away the penalty – probably the only way he would
score – however there was brief hope for the Lens fans when he
was sent off for first aiming his gun celebration at the Lens fan then grabbing
hold of the referee as he booked him. His face was a delight to see.
Only minutes later Le Moigne was sent off for a second
bookable offence and Kambouare decided to guard the goal difference and defenders
replaced attackers. The scoreline remained 1-3 but the attention of the stadium
was on the Lens fans who made sure they made the most of the opportunity to
earn themselves respect as they sang their way to the finish. Les corons boomed
out as did Qu’est ce que vous chantez and the Lens ‘clapping’ like a greatest
hits of Lens songs. As the fans filed out there was a feeling that the team had
restored a lot of pride with their performance and there was even time for a joyful
bounce under the terracing – as if we had won.
 |
| Ch'ti pride! |
