The match between France and Israel took place on November 14 at the Stade de France. It was memorable only for its monumental boredom. Additionally, there was a record attendance as glorious as a missed free kick.
A cathedral-like atmosphere… with echo
With only 16,611 spectators in the stands, this evening will be remembered in the annals… but for the wrong reasons. The Stade de France, the temple of French football, had never experienced such a situation. The attendance for a match of the Blues was pathetic. It was a rare spectacle: more empty seats than spectators. Even the pigeons flying over the stadium seemed bored.
And yet, what an atmosphere! The silence was almost religious. You could hear the players breathing. The coach’s instructions echoed like at a Tupperware meeting. And, if you paid attention, the squeaking of cleats on the wet grass was noticeable. A match? More like a collective nap.
Why such a desert?
But why this lack of interest? There was no shortage of excuses: between calls for a boycott, security concerns, and a palpable disinterest for a match with no apparent stakes, everything contributed to turning this evening into a flop. For some, watching "L’Amour est dans le pré" on their couch seemed a more thrilling alternative.
Others blame the weather. Let’s be serious. The Parisian public braves the endless lines in front of bakeries on Sunday mornings without flinching. So, a bit of rain doesn’t explain everything. No, the truth is that this match had as much flavor as a sandwich without filling.
An attack on vacation
On the field, boredom was also present. The Blues, usually flamboyant, delivered a performance that could be described as… minimalist. Not a goal, not a thrill. Even the ball seemed depressed.
Faced with a well-organized Israeli defense, the French offensives looked more like a rehearsal than a real battle. Didier Deschamps, true to his legendary composure, summed it up aptly: "We must do better." Translation: we messed up.
Football… and a lot of politics
Fortunately, there were some notable figures in the VIP stands. Emmanuel Macron came, flanked by his predecessors François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy. A meeting of presidents, but surely not to celebrate a victory. Their presence was more about diplomacy than a love for football.
On the Israeli side, Isaac Herzog and Benjamin Netanyahu were also present. In the end, this sporting event resembled more a political summit in cleats than a real football match. Perhaps a negotiation table should have been set up on the field?
A minor incident to liven up the atmosphere
The only moment of excitement in the stands? A brief scuffle between Israeli and French supporters. A few insults exchanged, two or three crowd movements, and the stewards intervened. In summary: nothing spectacular. Even the referee wouldn’t have shown a yellow card for that.
The Nations League, yes… but at what cost?
With this insipid draw, the Blues secure their ticket to the quarter-finals of the Nations League. But at what cost? A disappointing performance, an atmosphere weighed down by political tensions, and an empty stadium. This match had all the makings of a missed appointment.
A spectator, visibly inspired, summed up the evening with a sigh: "Even a documentary on jellyfish reproduction would have been more captivating."
If this match were a movie, it would have been a masterpiece… of silent cinema.