On the Road ... Tour de France

Soccer holligans at the Tour de France?!?

STRASBOURG, France — As strange as it may sound, I have now have better understanding of soccer hooligans. I'm not condoning their behavior, but Saturday night, about six hours after the prologue of the Tour de France, the soccer fans here unleashed their support of France's quarterfinal victory over Brazil in controlled pandemonium. I was having a late dinner in small outdoor cafe and it was a quiet night, since many locals were watching game in Frankfurt indoors. But at about 10:50 p.m. moments after the French won, a huge throng of fans -- some walking, some driving their cars and beeping their car horns and other just yelling -- flooded the streets. The police I saw mostly watched. Cars sped around tight corners, public drinking escalated and fanactism was defined at least until 2:30 a.m. How much more raucuous can it possibly get if France advances to the final next weekend or possibly wins the World Cup? — James Raia

posted by dave kellogg at 5:23 PM

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