City of light has warm emerald glow

PARIS might have got used to invasions during the past century but the French capital has still never experienced anything like the friendly Green Army which has descended on it for tonight's crucial World Cup qualifier.

More than 30,000 Irish fans, who have been arriving here since Tuesday, have helped to make the City of Light bathe in a warm, emerald glow this weekend.

From the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe and the city's other famous landmarks, the Irish have been creating a strong, visible presence in their efforts to ensure the occasion will feel like a home game for Brian Kerr's team.

Thousands of fans have done admirable impressions of Steve Martin and John Candy in the film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" as all forms of transport from places like Amsterdam, London and Brussels have been used to get to Paris.

Many are also displaying a French-style "joie de vivre" as they enjoy the novelty of smoking in bars and cafés - even if the price of a pint of Guinness is rarely below €6.

"It looks like it will be our busiest weekend ever since we opened in 1985," said Brian Loughney, the owner of Kitty O'Shea's - the oldest of around 25 Irish pubs in Paris.

"For rugby matches, we might get 15,000 Irish fans coming here, so it's going to be twice as many for the soccer, which will make it very special."

Irish supporters are also buoyed by the feeling the team can put one over on the former World and European champions whose side are barely recognisable from recent years due to a string of retirements and injuries since the summer.

"It would be great if Gary Breen was playing as he scored more goals in the last World Cup than the entire French team," joked travelling fan, Allan Chapman from Kells, Co Meath.

With an unimpressive 0-0 home draw against Israel and a barely respectable 2-0 away win over the Faeroe Islands, the French are not half as cocky as their national symbol might suggest about being favourites for tonight's game.

Even the French daily sports newspaper, L'Equipe, splashed a front-page banner yesterday entitled "The Mystery of Henry" - an expression of concern about how the prolific Arsenal striker, Thierry, has only managed to score two goals in 10 appearances for his country this year.

Irish fans will be conscious our Gallic hosts have only lost one competitive match at home in a decade.

Superstitious members of the Green Army might take care to note tonight's 8pm game is being played in the majestic Stade de France in the Parisian suburb of St Denis - patron saint of France whose feast day is today. On a more positive note, most armies which have invaded Paris in the past century have ended up in Germany - the destination for World Cup 2006.

We can only hope that "plus ça change."