French party as Portuguese bemoan The Curse of the Cockerel

WHEN it comes to holding a party the French can compete with anyone, but as the pre-match festivities get into full swing, the Italians seem to be one-nil up.

Maybe it’s the memories of last year’s riots, maybe it’s the current political mood. As France celebrated the win against Portugal, the media focused as much on the mobilisation of the police and firefighters as on the fans on the streets.

Up to half a million people were milling around central Paris on Wednesday night and Le Figaro reported that “no less than 25 units of riot police were mobilised in Paris and the provinces”, with emergency plans in force in cities from Brittany to Provence, as well as the Paris suburbs.