ICI C'EST PARIS – three words emblazoned across the top tier of the magnificent Parc des Princes.
This is Paris, indeed, especially when compared to the usual stomping ground for the France national team, Stade de France, situated north of the city, beyond the Périphérique, residing in the town of Saint Denis.
"A pleasure to play here," beamed France boss Didier Deschamps at the press conference, despite his team being bumped down the pecking order of the 80,000 arena to the more modest 48,000 of Parc des Princes.
Dating back to 1897, the stadium was originally called Stade Vélodrome du Parc des Princes and hosted the 1900 world cycling championships, while taking its name from the 16th arrondissement [district] and the adjacent Bois de Boulogne, which was frequented by royalty before the Revolution.
The current design of the stadium dates back to 1972 and its elliptical roof aids the remarkable atmosphere that can be generated, described by the locals as a 'box of sound’.
France expecting three points as they "close in on their goal" of qualification for Euro 2024. Probably bang on with their predicted teams too. pic.twitter.com/STn8yjcPux
— Ed Leahy (@Ed_Leahy) September 7, 2023
Not too dissimilar to Hampden Park in Glasgow with a big distance behind both goals to the seats, but otherwise it proves to be a top-class football stadium, which is currently home to Paris Saint-Germain.
The stadium has hosted World Cup matches dating back to the 1938 tournament, while it was also home to huge rock concerts including the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, and most importantly, the man credited with bringing rock and roll to France, Johnny Hallyday.
Located just a few minutes’ walk from the Porte de Saint-Cloud Metro station, the short hop along the number 9 line will have you eyeing the Eiffel Tower within ten minutes, while three more stops will allow you to disembark at the World War II-related Franklin D Roosevelt station, located in the middle of the iconic Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
But should you traipse the beautiful boulevard on matchday, there is little or no indication that a major sporting event is about to take place.
Tonight’s game might be the toughest task that Stephen Kenny has entertained since taking charge of the team, however, for the locals, it is really just another step closer to qualification with three points very much expected.
The major sporting event, of course, being the Rugby World Cup, which begins on Friday night as host nation France take on the mighty All Blacks at the aforementioned Stade de France.
The rugby must wait, however, as Les Bleus, of the football variety, still commands the attention and the front page of the brilliant daily sports newspaper L’Equipe. You must trawl through 13 pages of football – including an article linking former Chelsea manager Graham Potter with Lyon – before you get to the COUPE DU MONDE 2023-branded broadsheets.
On the eve of the game, it was a case of lost in translation at the pre-match press conference; a bemused Deschamps moved quickly to clarify that Kylian Mbappe would, in fact, be playing tonight, and he would start as captain.
Coming into the Parc des Princes auditorium minutes after Antoine Griezmann finished his media duties, the France coach had to quickly quash the suggestion that he wouldn't be featuring.
It was a fleeting moment of hope for this struggling Ireland team as there was a suggestion that Griezmann would skipper the side for the Euro 2024 qualifier.
The France forward’s questions and answers session were coming through the headsets with the local interpreter finding it difficult to keep up with the back and forth with the Atletico Madrid man.
The captain generally speaks to the press the day before the game, and on this occasion, Griezmann stepped into Mbappe’s shoes. Judging by the line of questions regarding the Paris Saint-Germain striker and his club situation, it was no wonder that he sat this one out.
Deschamps would later explain that once the conversation moved from the collective to the individual, he would change the conversation, which is why captain Mbappe sat this one out.
The coach was right; there appeared to be more interest in Mbappe’s club situation at Paris Saint-Germain, with rumours constantly linking the star striker with moves away from the Ligue 1 club, than there was with the clash with Ireland.
Mbappe is clearly a distraction in the build-up to the game, and it might just offer a small bit of hope for Ireland tonight that the home side and the PSG striker might not be fully tuned in to the task at hand.
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