ON TOP OF THE WORLD
France claims soccer supremacy
It was absolute pandemonium inside Vancouver’s de-facto France House on Sunday as the country secured its second World Cup title in a thrilling 4-2 final against Croatia.
The goal-filled spectacular had France fans inside Main Street’s American Pub in high spirits.
One thousand France supporters packed inside seven bars in the False Creek area flooded Creekside Park after the game to celebrate a new generation of heroes who managed to clinch the cup 20 years since France’s win on home soil.
“We now have a great generation of players,” said Adrien Lafleche, who took part in organizing the event. “We brought the French community in Vancouver together, and we’re proud of our team and proud of our country.”
The pub offered coffee and croissants for those who came out on Sunday morning, some as early as 5 a.m. By first call, the crowd switched to French beer.
France took the lead after a free kick by Antoine Griezmann was topped into the net by Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic. Just 10 minutes later, the game was tied temporarily as Croatia hit back.
But a controversial VAR decision awarding France with a penalty kick had fans in awe, as Griezmann tucked home the team’s second goal.
Piling pressure from Croatia in the first half eventually diminished with France scoring two consecutive goals just six minutes apart.
That included one from 19-yearold Kylian Mbappe, who became the second teen after Pele to score in a World Cup final, and whose goal ultimately put the match out of reach for its opponents.
Lafleche said it was a day he’ll remember, side by side with France’s win in 1998, when he was just 10 years old.
“When you ask a French person anywhere, where they were on July 12, 1998, they will tell you exactly where they were,” he said. “I was at home with my dad, watching TV. I knew what the World Cup was, but I realized the magnitude of it years later.”
“That’s when my passion for soccer started,” said Lafleche, who now plays with Vancouver’s France Football Club.
Flag-waving became a two-day event over the weekend with victory for Les Bleus coming right after Bastille Day.
It wasn’t the result Croatian fans wished to see. Supporters hoped to settle an old score with the French dating back to the semifinals of the 1998 tournament, when Croatia’s dreams were cut short.
But the results still called for celebration for many, as the team counted three straight overtime matches this year, soaring to the finals for the first time in their history.
Vancouver’s Croatian Cultural Centre also witnessed a historic turnout as more than a thousand people, friends and family alike, gathered to watch the match.
“For a small country of 4.5 million people, this is huge,” said Matey Mladic. “We still consider it a victory.”
Although considered the underdog, Croatia was buoyed by knocking out England in overtime in the semifinals, and was able to maintain strong possession against France, while tucking two goals into the net.
Amid defeat, the energy was still electric for its supporters. For younger Croatians in attendance, it’s the first time they’ve seen their country on the world stage like this.
“It’s heartwarming that everyone knows who Croatia is now. Everyone has seen our faces, has seen our names, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Patricia Mendes.
We brought the French community in Vancouver together, and we’re proud of our team and proud of our country.