The Blues at Crillon? Autopsy of a disappointment

Thousands of supporters of the French team have waited for Place de la Concorde Monday afternoon, in the hope of congratulating their champions. In the end, they were evacuated by the CRS.
  

The disappointment lived up to the hopes. And waiting, long, on the Place de la Concorde. Monday late afternoon, thousands of fans waited for the Bleus face the hotel Crillon (whose balconies dominate the place) to thank the players of the French team for making them vibrate. An informal meeting between the Blues and their fans that took place in 2000 and 2006.

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But the Blues on the balcony there will be none. The party was short and ended up in pudding. Exasperated, supporters let their anger burst. Some threw bottles at the police, who then evacuated the Place de la Concorde, adding to the bitterness.

"On the Champs, everyone was convinced that the Bleus would make an appearance on the balcony of the Hotel Crillon." It seemed obvious, some supporters badured to have read or heard somewhere, "says a journalist L Express, present yesterday in the crowd gathered on the avenue.

Balcony or not balcony?

But Tuesday morning, the head of the press of Philippe Tournon Blues badures the micro Franceinfo that it was a rumor. An evening at Crillon, "it never validated" nor "programmed", he storms. "I'm waiting for someone to tell me who, when, how and on whose behalf it was announced that there would be something in Crillon," he adds.

A rumor that has been denied the day before – blatantly – by the official Twitter account of the Team of France, around 20:30: "No appointment in a large hotel or Parisian palace will follow this appointment [à l’Élysée] ". But the precision has remained without effect.

However, the grouping of the Blues at the hotel Crillon has been raised in various media, without citing a source. On Le Figaro Sports for example, in an article published on July 16 devoted to the program of the Blues after the World Cup.

In an article on the same theme, titled "The day after" and published on Monday morning, The Parisian goes further: "To finish their adventure in beauty, the Blues will then go to the hotel Crillon […] for a dinner organized by the FFF. balcony of the hotel and a moment of celebration with the public are also planned ".

The mayor of Paris also evokes, on Monday morning, on RTL, the idea of a rally: Le Crillon, on the Concorde, as in 1998? "Yes, absolutely, they can be there, be acclaimed on the Place de la Concorde." […] All those who want to say thank you will be able to see them ". On Europe 1 the chef of the Hotel Crillon details even prepared desserts "footballs blue, white, red chocolate." Monday at the end of the afternoon, TF1, which covered the descent of the Champs-Elysees des Bleus, played the same music according to Liberation .

"We thought they were coming"

The program was different. "The dislocation of the group France took place at the exit of the Elysée [peu avant 22h] the players are on vacation," explained AFP Philippe Tournon. On Franceinfo, he adds that they then joined the hotel de Marigny – an annex of the Elysee – for a "small buffet" and that the players then took taxis to reach the destination he wanted. "Some people went to Crillon, maybe," he says. But not all, let alone to appear on the balcony. Despite the wait.

Contacted by L'Express, Crillon does not wish to speak on the subject. A source close to this file, however, confirms that the Blues were indeed expected. "We thought they were coming, not for a party or party, but the historic lounge was available to them as in 1998". Snacks and refreshments had been planned. Was the meeting organized with the staff of the Team de France? "I do not know," replied Crillon.

A quibble of communication and organization that tarnished popular jubilation. For its part, the Élysée ensures Obs not to have retained the players: "We were asked by their staff to offer them a snack at the beginning of the evening given the difficulties of organization" .

The most persevering of the supporters will however have seen Didier Deschamps, and make selfies with him Wednesday morning down the Crillon.